Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE
Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE

Dr. Armin Richter

High-Efficiency Silicon Solar Cells

Research focus

  • Development of high efficiency silicon solar cells along the whole process chain
  • Analysis of loss mechanisms and 3d device simulations of silicon solar cells
  • Characterization of fundamental properties silicon such as Auger recombination
  • In depth characterization of dielectric surface passivation layers
  • Development and characterization of atomic layer deposited (ALD) thin films for PV applications such as
    o Silicon surface passivation
    o Electron / hole transport layers for perovskite solar cells
    o Transparent conductive oxides (TCOs)
     

Curriculum vitae

2009-2014 Ph. D. (physics), University of Konstanz/Fraunhofer ISE. Title: "Aluminum oxide for the surface passivation of high efficiency silicon solar cells"  
2008 Diploma in Physics from University Hamburg/Fraunhofer ISE. Title (translated): "Front surface passivation of n-type silicon solar cells with amorphous silicon"  
since 2007 Researcher at Fraunhofer ISE in the group High-efficiency Silicon Solar Cells  
2002-2008 Student at University Hamburg (physics)  

Publications

YearTitle/AuthorDocument Type
2020Postmetallization "Passivated Edge Technology" for Separated Silicon Solar Cells
Baliozian, P.; Al-Akash, M.; Lohmüller, E.; Richter, A.; Fellmeth, T.; Münzer, A.; Wöhrle, N.; Saint-Cast, P.; Stolzenburg, H.; Spribille, A.; Preu, R.		Journal Article
2019Analysis of Temperature Dependent Characteristics of Diffused Regions in Silicon Solar Cells
Eberle, R.; Fell, A.; Richter, A.; Niewelt, T.; Schindler, F.; Schubert, M.		Conference Paper
2019Both Sides Contacted Silicon Solar Cells. Options for Approaching 26% Efficiency
Richter, A.; Benick, J.; Feldmann, F.; Fell, A.; Steinhauser, B.; Polzin, J.-I.; Tucher, N.; Murthy, J.N.; Hermle, M.; Glunz, S.W.		Conference Paper
2019Edge Recombination Analysis of Silicon Solar Cells Using Photoluminescence Measurements
Stolzenburg, H.; Fell, A.; Schindler, F.; Kwapil, W.; Richter, A.; Baliozan, P.; Schubert, M.C.		Conference Paper
2019Large Area TOPCon Cells Realized by a PECVD Tube Process
Feldmann, F.; Fellmeth, T.; Steinhauser, B.; Nagel, H.; Ourinson, D.; Mack, S.; Lohmüller, E.; Polzin, J.-I.; Benick, J.; Richter, A.; Moldovan, A.; Bivour, M.; Clement, F.; Rentsch, J.; Hermle, M.; Glunz, S.W.		Conference Paper
2019PERC-Based Shingled Solar Cells and Modules at Fraunhofer ISE
Baliozian, P.; Klasen, N.; Wöhrle, N.; Kutter, C.; Stolzenburg, H.; Münzer, A.; Saint-Cast, P.; Mittag, M.; Lohmüller, E.; Fellmeth, T.; Al-Akash, M.; Kraft, A.; Heinrich, M.; Richter, A.; Fell, A.; Neuhaus, H.; Preu, R.		Journal Article
2018Carrier-Selective Contacts for High-Efficiency Silicon Solar Cells: Presentation held at Photovoltaic Conference, PVCon 2018, Ankara, Turkey, 4-6 July 2018
Glunz, S.; Feldmann, F.; Polzin, J.; Steinhauser, B.; Müller, R.; Fell, A.; Richter, A.; Niewelt, T.; Schindler, F.; Kökbudak, G.; Turan, R.; Nogay, G.; Löper, P.; Young, D.L.; Lee, B.G.; Stradins, P.; Bivour, M.; Cariou, R.; Benick, J.; Dimroth, F.; Hermle, M.		Presentation
2018Impact of bulk impurity contamination on the performance of high‐efficiency n‐type silicon solar cells
Richter, A.; Benick, J.; Fell, A.; Hermle, M.; Glunz, S.W.		Journal Article
2018Insulating and passivating plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposited aluminum oxide thin films for silicon solar cells
Reichel, C.; Reusch, M.; Kotula, S.; Granek, F.; Richter, A.; Hermle, M.; Glunz, S.W.		Journal Article
2018Large Area TOPCon Technology Achieving 23.4% Efficiency
Steinhauser, B.; Feldmann, F.; Polzin, J.-I.; Tutsch, L.; Arya, V.; Grübel, B.; Fischer, A.; Moldovan, A.; Benick, J.; Richter, A.; Brand, A.A.; Kluska, S.; Hermle, M.		Conference Paper
2018Light scattering at random pyramid textures: Effects beyond geometric optics
Höhn, O.; Tucher, N.; Richter, A.; Hermle, M.; Bläsi, B.		Conference Paper
2018Limiting Effects in Crystalline Silicon for High-Efficiency Solar Cells: Presentation held at 28th Annual NREL Silicon Workshop 2018, Winter Park, Colorado, USA, 12 - 15 August 2018
Niewelt, T.; Richter, A.; Eberle, R.; Post, R.; Schön, J.; Schindler, F.; Hermle, M.; Kwapil, W.; Schubert, M.		Presentation
2018Rapid vapor-phase direct doping for high-efficiency solar cells
Kühnhold-Pospischil, Saskia; Steinhauser, Bernd; Richter, Armin; Gust, Elke; Janz, Stefan		Journal Article
2018A study on the charge carrier transport of passivating contacts
Feldmann, Frank; Nogay, Gizem; Polzin, Jana-Isabelle; Steinhauser, Bernd; Richter, Armin; Schmiga, Christian; Hermle, Martin		Journal Article
2018Taking monocrystalline silicon to the ultimate lifetime limit
Niewelt, Tim; Richter, Armin; Kho, T.C.; Grant, N.E.; Bonilla, R.S.; Steinhauser, Bernd; Polzin, Jana-Isabelle; Feldmann, Frank; Hermle, Martin; Murphy, J.D.; Phang, S.P.; Kwapil, Wolfram; Schubert, Martin C.		Journal Article
2018Taking Monocrystalline Silicon to the Ultimate Lifetime Limit: Presentation held at 8th International Conference on Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaics 2018, Lausanne, Switzerland, 19-21 March 2018
Niewelt, T.; Richter, A.; Kho, T.; Grant, N.; Bonilla, R.; Steinhauser, B.; Polzin, J.-I.; Feldmann, F.; Hermle, M.; Murphy, J.; Phang, S.; Kwapil, W.; Schubert, M.C.		Presentation
2018Towards the Efficiency Limits of Multicrystalline Silicon Solar Cells
Schindler, F.; Fell, A.; Müller, R.; Benick, J.; Richter, A.; Feldmann, F.; Krenckel, P.; Riepe, S.; Schubert, M.C.; Glunz, S.W.		Journal Article
2018Tunnel oxide passivating electron contacts as full‐area rear emitter of high‐efficiency p‐type silicon solar cells
Richter, A.; Benick, J.; Müller, R.; Feldmann, F.; Reichel, C.; Hermle, M.; Glunz, S.W.		Journal Article
2017Approaching 22% efficiency with multicrystalline n-type silicon solar cells
Benick, J.; Müller, R.; Schindler, F.; Richter, A.; Hauser, H.; Feldmann, F.; Krenckel, P.; Riepe, S.; Schubert, M.C.; Hermle, M.; Glunz, S.W.		Conference Paper
2017Fabrication and modeling of high-efficiency front junction n-type silicon solar cells with tunnel oxide passivating back contact
Rohatgi, A.; Rounsaville, B.; Ok, Y.-W.; Tam, A.M.; Zimbardi, F.; Upadhyaya, A.D.; Tao, Y.; Madani, K.; Richter, A.; Benick, J.; Hermle, M.		Journal Article
2017High-Efficiency n-Type HP MC Silicon Solar Cells
Benick, J.; Richter, A.; Müller, R.; Hauser, H.; Feldmann, F.; Krenckel, P.; Riepe, S.; Schindler, F.; Schubert, M.C.; Hermle, M.; Bett, A.W.; Glunz, S.W.		Journal Article
2017How to achieve efficiencies exceeding 22% with multicrystalline n-type silicon solar cells
Schindler, F.; Michl, B.; Krenckel, P.; Riepe, S.; Benick, J.; Müller, R.; Richter, A.; Glunz, S.W.; Schubert, M.C.		Journal Article
2017Impact of the homogeneous junction breakdown in IBC solar cells on the passivation quality of AL2O3 and SiO2. Degradation and regeneration behavior
Müller, Ralph; Reichel, Christian; Yang, Xinbo; Richter, Armin; Benick, Jan; Hermle, Martin		Journal Article
2017Influence of the transition region between p-and n-type polycrystalline silicon passivating contacts on the performance of interdigitated back contact silicon solar cells
Reichel, C.; Müller, R.; Feldmann, F.; Richter, A.; Hermle, M.; Glunz, S.W.		Journal Article
2017Interdigitated back contact silicon solar cells featuring ion-implanted poly-Si/SiOx passivating contacts
Reichel, C.; Müller, R.; Feldmann, F.; Richter, A.; Hermle, M.; Glunz, S.W.		Conference Paper
2017Long-term stability of aluminum oxide based surface passivation schemes under illumination at elevated temperatures
Niewelt, T.; Kwapil, W.M.; Selinger, M.; Richter, A.; Schubert, M.C.		Journal Article
2017Low Temperature perovskite solar cells with an evaporated TiO2 compact layer for perovskite silicon tandem solar cells
Bett, A.J.; Schulze, P.S.; Winkler, K.; Gasparetto, J.; Ndione, P.F.; Bivour, M.; Hinsch, A.; Kohlstädt, M.; Lee, S.; Mastroianni, S.; Mundt, L.E.; Mundus, M.; Reichel, C.; Richter, A.; Veit, C.; Wienands, K.; Würfel, U.; Veurman, W.; Glunz, S.W.; Hermle, M.; Goldschmidt, J.C.		Journal Article
2017n-Type Si solar cells with passivating electron contact: Identifying sources for efficiency limitations by wafer thickness and resistivity variation
Richter, A.; Benick, J.; Feldmann, F.; Fell, A.; Hermle, M.; Glunz, S.W.		Journal Article
2017Optimized multicrystalline silicon for solar cells enabling conversion efficiencies of 22%
Schindler, F.; Michl, B.; Krenckel, P.; Riepe, S.; Benick, J.; Müller, R.; Richter, A.; Glunz, S.W.; Schubert, M.C.		Journal Article
2017Passivating and Carrier-Selective Contacts - Basic Requirements and Implementation
Glunz, S.; Bivour, M.; Messmer, C.; Feldmann, F.; Müller, R.; Reichel, C.; Richter, A.; Schindler, F.; Benick, J.; Hermle, M.		Conference Paper
2017Rapid vapor-phase direct diffused emitter for solar cell applications
Kühnhold-Pospischil, S.; Gust, E.; Amiri, D.; Richter, A.; Steinhauser, B.; Drießen, M.; Michl, B.; Greulich, J.; Benick, J.; Lindekugel, S.; Janz, S.		Conference Paper
2017Stability of effective lifetime of float-zone silicon wafers with AlOx surface passivation schemes under illumination at elevated temperature
Niewelt, T.; Kwapil, W.; Selinger, M.; Richter, A.; Schubert, M.C.		Journal Article
2016Activation Energy of Negative Fixed Charges in Thermal ALD Al2O3
Kühnhold-Pospischil, S.; Saint-Cast, P.; Richter, A.; Hofmann, M.		Journal Article
2016Precise parameterization of the recombination velocity at passivated phosphorus doped surfaces
Kimmerle, A.; Rahman, M.M.; Werner, S.; Mack, S.; Wolf, A.; Richter, A.; Haug, H.		Journal Article
2016Silicon solar cells with full-area passivated rear contacts: Presentation held at 26th International Photovoltaic Science and Engineering Conference, PVSEC 2016, Singapore, 24 - 28 October 2016
Richter, A.; Benick, J.; Feldmann, F.; Fell, A.; Hermle, M.; Glunz, S.W.		Presentation
2016Ultrathin titanium dioxide nanolayers by atomic layer deposition for surface passivation of crystalline silicon
Gad, K.M.; Vössing, D.; Richter, A.; Rayner, B.; Reindl, L.M.; Mohney, S.E.; Kasemann, M.		Journal Article
2015Aluminum oxide for the surface passivation of high efficiency silicon solar cells: Technology and advanced characterization
Richter, Armin		Dissertation
2015Approaching efficiencies above 25% with both sides-contacted silicon solar cells
Hermle, M.; Feldmann, F.; Eisenlohr, J.; Benick, J.; Richter, A.; Lee, B.; Stradins, P.; Rohatgi, A.; Glunz, S.W.		Conference Paper
2015Emitters grown by rapid vapour-phase direct doping for high efficiency solar cells
Lindekugel, S.; Rachow, T.; Milenkovic, N.; Richter, A.; Benick, J.; Janz, S.; Reber, S.		Conference Paper
2015The irresistible charm of a simple current flow pattern - approaching 25% with a solar cell featuring a full-area back contact
Glunz, S.W.; Feldmann, F.; Richter, A.; Bivour, M.; Reichel, C.; Steinkemper, H.; Benick, J.; Hermle, M.		Conference Paper
201421.8% efficient n-type solar cells with industrially feasible plated metallization
Bartsch, J.; Kamp, M.; Hartleb, D.; Wittich, C.; Mondon, A.; Steinhauser, B.; Feldmann, F.; Richter, A.; Benick, J.; Glatthaar, M.; Hermle, M.; Glunz, S.W.		Journal Article
2014Evaluation of implantation annealing for highly-doped selective boron emitters suitable for screen-printed contacts
Müller, R.; Benick, J.; Bateman, N.; Schön, J.; Reichel, C.; Richter, A.; Hermle, M.; Glunz, S.W.		Journal Article
2014Passivation of phosporus diffused silicon surfaces with Al2O3: Influence of surface doping concentration and thermal activation treatments
Richter, A.; Benick, J.; Kimmerle, A.; Hermle, M.; Glunz, S.W.		Journal Article
2014Properties of the c-Si/Al2O3 interface of ultrathin atomic layer deposited Al2O3 layers capped by SiNx for c-Si surface passivation
Schuldis, D.; Richter, A.; Benick, J.; Saint-Cast, P.; Hermle, M.; Glunz, S.W.		Journal Article
2014Reaction kinetics during the thermal activation of the silicon surface passivation with atomic layer deposited Al2O3
Richter, A.; Benick, J.; Hermle, M.; Glunz, S.W.		Journal Article
2014Study of dielectric layers for bifacial n-type silicon solar cells with regard to optical properties, surface passivation quality, and contact formation
Kalio, A.; Richter, A.; Schmiga, C.; Glatthaar, M.; Wilde, J.		Journal Article
2014Upconverter silicon solar cell devices for efficient utilization of sub-band-gap photons under concentrated solar radiation
Fischer, S.; Ivaturi, A.; Fröhlich, B.; Rüdiger, M.; Richter, A.; Krämer, K.; Richards, B.; Goldschmidt, J.		Journal Article
2013Boron emitter passivation with AI2O3 and AI2O3/SiNx stacks using ALD AI2O3
Richter, A.; Benick, J.; Hermle, M.		Journal Article
2013Excellent average diffusion lenghts of 600 µm of n-Type multicrystalline silicon wafers after the full solar cell process including boron diffusion
Michl, B.; Benick, J.; Richter, A.; Bivour, M.; Yong, J.; Steeman, R.; Schubert, M.; Glunz, S.W.		Journal Article
2013Parameterization of free carrier absorption in highly doped silicon for solar cells
Rüdiger, M.; Greulich, J.; Richter, A.; Hermle, M.		Journal Article
2013Reassessment of the limiting efficiency for crystalline silicon solar cells
Richter, A.; Hermle, M.; Glunz, S.W.		Journal Article
2013Study of contact formation of printed contacts through different passivation layers on lowly doped emitters
Kalio, A.; Richter, A.; Glatthaar, M.; Wilde, J.		Journal Article
2012Analysis of the temperature dependence of the open-circuit voltage
Löper, P.; Pysch, D.; Richter, A.; Hermle, M.; Janz, S.; Zacharias, M.; Glunz, S.W.		Journal Article
2012Improved parameterization of Auger recombination in silicon
Richter, A.; Werner, F.; Cuevas, A.; Schmidt, J.; Glunz, S.W.		Journal Article
2012Improved quantitative description of Auger recombination in crystalline silicon
Richter, A.; Glunz, S.W.; Werner, F.; Schmidt, J.; Cuevas, A.		Journal Article
2012Influence of different post deposition treatments on the passivation quality and interface properties of thermal ALD Al2O3 capped by PECVD SiNx
Schuldis, D.; Richter, A.; Benick, J.; Hermle, M.		Conference Paper
2012Thermal stability of spatial ALD deposited Al2O3 capped by PECVD SiNx for the passivation of lowly- and highly-doped p-type silicon surfaces
Richter, A.; Souren, F.M.M.; Schuldis, D.; Görtzen, R.M.W.; Benick, J.; Hermle, M.; Glunz, S.W.		Conference Paper
2012Very low surface recombination velocity of boron doped emitter passivated with plasma-enhanced chemical-vapor-deposited AlOx layers
Saint-Cast, P.; Richter, A.; Billot, E.; Hofmann, M.; Benick, J.; Rentsch, J.; Preu, R.; Glunz, S.W.		Journal Article
2011Excellent silicon surface passivation with 5 Å thin ALD Al2O3 layers: Influence of different thermal post-deposition treatments
Richter, A.; Benick, J.; Hermle, M.; Glunz, S.W.		Journal Article
2011Impact of wet-chemical cleaning on the passivation quality of Al 2O 3 layers
Breitenstein, L.; Richter, A.; Hermle, M.; Warta, W.		Conference Paper
2011Metallization of n-type silicon solar cells using fine line printing techniques
Kalio, A.; Richter, A.; Hörteis, M.; Glunz, S.W.		Conference Paper
2011Studies on Wet-Chemical Surface Conditioning for Al2o3 Passivation Layers Deposited with ALD
Breitenstein, L.; Richter, A.; Hermle, M.; Warta, W.		Conference Paper
2011Surface Passivation of Highly and Lowly Doped P-Type Silicon Surfaces with PECVD Al2O3 for Industrially Applicable Solar Cell Concepts
Saint-Cast, P.; Billot, E.; Olwal, P.; Kühnhold, S.; Richter, A.; Hofmann, M.; Rentsch, J.; Preu, R.		Conference Paper
2011Towards industrial n-type PERT silicon solar cells: Rear passivation and metallization scheme
Richter, A.; Benick, J.; Kalio, A.; Seiffe, J.; Hörteis, M.; Hermle, M.; Glunz, S.W.		Conference Paper
2010Effect of a post-deposition anneal on Al2O3/Si interface properties
Benick, J.; Richter, A.; Li, T.-T.A; Grant, N.E.; McIntosh, K.R.; Ren, Y.; Weber, K.J.; Hermle, M.; Glunz, S.W.		Conference Paper
2010Firing stable Al2O3/SiNx layer stack passivation for the front side boron emitter of n-type silicon solar cells
Richter, A.; Henneck, S.; Benick, J.; Hörteis, M.; Hermle, M.; Glunz, S.W.		Conference Paper
2010Fundamental reactions during the formation of fired silver contacts and solar cell results
Hörteis, M.; Benick, J.; Nekarda, J.; Richter, A.; Preu, R.; Glunz, S.W.		Conference Paper
2010Fundamental studies on the front contact formation resulting in a 21% efficiency silicon solar cell with printed rear and front contacts
Hörteis, M.; Benick, J.; Nekarda, J.; Richter, A.; Preu, R.; Glunz, S.W.		Conference Paper
2010High efficiency p-type PERC solar cells applying PECVD ALOx layers
Saint-Cast, P.; Benick, J.; Kania, D.; Billot, E.; Richter, A.; Hermle, M.; Hofmann, M.; Rentsch, J.; Preu, R.; Glunz, S.W.		Conference Paper
2010n-Type silicon - enabling efficiencies > 20% in industrial production
Glunz, S.W.; Benick, J.; Biro, D.; Bivour, M.; Hermle, M.; Pysch, D.; Rauer, M.; Reichel, C.; Richter, A.; Rüdiger, M.; Schmiga, C.; Suwito, D.; Wolf, A.; Preu, R.		Conference Paper
2010Seed layer printed contact formation for highly doped boron emitters of n-type silicon solar cells with front side junction
Richter, A.; Hörteis, M.; Benick, J.; Hermle, M.; Glunz, S.W.		Conference Paper
2010Towards industrially feasible high-efficiency n-type Si solar cells with boron-diffused front side emitter - combining firing stable Al2O3 passivation and fine-line printing
Richter, A.; Hörteis, M.; Benick, J.; Henneck, S.; Hermle, M.; Glunz, S.W.		Conference Paper
2009Amorphous silicon passivation applied to the front side boron emitter of n-type silicon solar cells
Richter, A.; Benick, J.; Hermle, M.; Glunz, S.W.		Conference Paper
2009High-efficiency n-type silicon solar cells with front side boron emitter
Benick, J.; Hoex, B.; Dingemanns, G.; Kessels, W.M.M.; Richter, A.; Hermle, M.; Glunz, S.W.		Conference Paper
2009Impact of SiNx:H and Al2O3 surface passivation on interstitial iron concentration and carrier lifetime in mc-silicon wafers
Habenicht, H.; Schubert, M.C.; Richter, A.; Warta, W.		Conference Paper
2009Thermal stability of the Al2O3 passivation on p-type silicon surfaces for solar cell applications
Benick, J.; Richter, A.; Hermle, M.; Glunz, S.W.		Journal Article
2008Detailed study on the passivation mechanism of a-SixC1-x for the solar cell rear side
Suwito, D.; Roth, T.; Pysch, D.; Korte, L.; Richter, A.; Janz, S.; Glunz, S.W.		Conference Paper
2008Spectral ellipsometry analysis of ultrathin amorphous silicon layers
Richter, A.; Benick, J.; Glunz, S.W.		Conference Paper
This publication list has been generated from the publication database Fraunhofer-Publica.