Publications by Julien Hurni | EPFL Graph Search

Co-annealing of PECVD boron emitters and poly-Si passivating contacts for leaner TOPCon solar cell fabrication

Christophe Ballif, Franz-Josef Haug, Julien Hurni, Ezgi Genç, Sofia Libraro

This study investigates the feasibility of a single-step annealing process for tunnel oxide passivating contact (TOPCon) solar cell fabrication to replace the conventional two-step approach. We present a novel method using a single thermal treatment to sim ...

2025

nc-SiC by PECVD for High-Temperature Passivating Contacts

Christophe Ballif, Franz-Josef Haug, Julien Hurni, Ezgi Genç

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)2025

Boron-emitter development for TOPCon c-Si solar cells based on plasma-deposited boron diffusion source and poly-Si(n) passivating contact

Christophe Ballif, Franz-Josef Haug, Julien Hurni, Ezgi Genç

The n-type TOPCon technology is currently the leading approach in the industry. Generally, it involves two high-temperature steps that can result in long cycle times and expensive processes. In this context, we propose a lean manufacturing process based on ...

2025

Impact of Rapid Thermal Processing on Bulk Lifetime and Surface Recombination Velocity of Crystalline Silicon With Passivating Tunnel Oxide Contacts

Christophe Ballif, Franz-Josef Haug, Julien Hurni, Ezgi Genç, Sofia Libraro, Audrey Marie Isabelle Morisset

We investigate rapid thermal processing (RTP) as alternative to the prolonged thermal annealing process used to form tunnel-oxide passivating contacts for silicon solar cells. The thermal treatment is generally followed by hydrogenation to passivate defect ...

Wiley2025

Development and characterization of N2O-plasma oxide layers for high-temperature p-type passivating contacts in silicon solar cells

Christophe Ballif, Aïcha Hessler-Wyser, Franz-Josef Haug, Julien Hurni, Ezgi Genç, Sofia Libraro, Audrey Marie Isabelle Morisset, David Fernando Reyes Vasquez

Full-area passivating contacts based on SiOx/poly-Si stacks are key for the new generation of industrial silicon solar cells substituting the passivated emitter and rear cell (PERC) technology. Demonstrating a potential efficiency increase of 1 to 2% compa ...

American Chemical Society (ACS)2024

Carrier generation and collection in Zn3P2/InP heterojunction solar cells

Anna Fontcuberta i Morral, Franz-Josef Haug, Mahdi Zamani, Simon Robert Escobar Steinvall, Julien Hurni, Rajrupa Paul, Valerio Piazza, Mirjana Dimitrievska, Joel René Sapera

Zinc phosphide (Zn3P2) has been lauded as a promising solar absorber material due to its functional properties and the abundance of zinc and phosphorous. In the last 4 decades, there has not been any significant improvement in the efficiencies of Zn3P2-bas ...

ELSEVIER2023

Understanding and mitigating resistive losses in fired passivating contacts: role of the interfaces and optimization of the thermal budget

Christophe Ballif, Aïcha Hessler-Wyser, Franz-Josef Haug, Luca Massimiliano Antognini, Julien Hurni, Ezgi Genç, Sofia Libraro, Audrey Marie Isabelle Morisset

This work presents a study of p-type passivating contacts based on SiCx formed via a rapid thermal processing (RTP) step, using conditions compatible with the firing used to sinter screen-printed metallization pastes in industry. The contributions of the t ...

Elsevier2023

ZnSnxGe1-xN2 as electron-selective contact for silicon heterojunction solar cells

Christophe Ballif, Mathieu Gérard Boccard, Jonathan Emanuel Thomet, Luca Massimiliano Antognini, Vincent Philippe Paratte, Julie Amandine Dreon, Julien Hurni, Davi Marcelo Fébba

This work reports the electrical characterization of ZnSnxGe1-xN2 (ZTGN) layers deposited on glass by sputtering and further assesses for the first time the performance of SHJ solar cells featuring them as electron-selective contacts. Bandgap, conductivity ...

IEEE2021

Effects of work function and electron affinity on the performance of carrier-selective contacts in silicon solar cells using $ZnSn_{x}Ge_{1-x}N_{2}$ as a case study

Christophe Ballif, Mathieu Gérard Boccard, Jonathan Emanuel Thomet, Luca Massimiliano Antognini, Vincent Philippe Paratte, Julie Amandine Dreon, Julien Hurni, Davi Marcelo Fébba

2021

Effects of Work Function and Electron Affinity on the Performance of Carrier-Selective Contacts in Silicon Solar Cells Using ZnSnx Ge-1 (-) N-x(2) as a Case Study

Christophe Ballif, Mathieu Gérard Boccard, Jonathan Emanuel Thomet, Luca Massimiliano Antognini, Vincent Philippe Paratte, Julie Amandine Dreon, Julien Hurni

This work reports the electrical characterization of ZnSnx Ge1 - xN2 (ZTGN) layers (10% < x < 90%) deposited on glass by combinatorial sputtering and further assesses the performance of silicon heterojunction (SHJ) solar cells featuring them as electron-se ...

IEEE-INST ELECTRICAL ELECTRONICS ENGINEERS INC2021