n-type silicon solar cells

n-type silicon (Si) technologies played a major role in the early age of photovoltaics (PV). Indeed, the Bell Laboratories prepared the first practical solar cells from n-type crystalline Si (c-Si) wafers (Figure 3.1) [1-3]. Therefore, the domination of p-type technologies over the last decades for the production of commercial solar cells could appear as a paradox. This is essentially explained by historical reasons. Fifty years ago, the dominant market for c-Si solar cells was space power applications. In space, solar components are affected by radiation damages (electrons, protons). Interestingly, this degradation is significantly reduced by using p-type cells instead of n-type devices [4]. Thus, the solar cell developments for space applications focused on p-type wafers. When the first commercial productions for terrestrial applications were launched, they took benefit of these early developments for space missions and were therefore naturally based on p-type devices. Then, with the rapid growth of PV, p-type solar cells were the main recipients of the industrially oriented innovations and eventually maintained their domination over the PV market.