Thin film monocrystalline silicon solar cells based on
porous silicon layer transfer processes could be costeffective
because of their lower consumption of material
use and the potential for high efficiency. Novel techniques
of porous silicon film separation, obtained by anodization
of silicon, are presented. Anodization techniques for
porous silicon film separation are classified as either onestep
or two-step. Two-step anodization provides better
control over the one-step method in terms of porous
silicon film thickness that can be separated. The substrate
reusability of both the techniques is assessed through
roughness measurements. A monocrystalline epitaxial
layer is deposited on annealed porous silicon, and is then
used to make a solar cell. A cell of 12 % efficiency is
realized in 18 pm thick epitaxial layer with an excellent
short circuit current of 32.9 mA/cm2.