Isotropic texturing of multicrystalline silicon wafers with acidic texturing solutions [solar cell manufacture]

The limitations associated with the most widely used anisotropic etching techniques in industrial multicrystalline solar cell manufacturing processes can be reduced by using acidic etching solutions. Optimised etching conditions were found which lower the reflectance from multi-c wafers below levels obtained by anisotropic texturing with NaOH solutions. The surfaces of acidic textured wafers show a very homogeneous distribution of the reflected light. Solar cells produced on acidic textured wafers show higher performance than in the case of alkaline texturing.