Microcrystalline silicon-carbon alloys as anti-reflection window layers in high efficiency thin film silicon solar cells

ABSTRACTLower absorption, lower refractive index and tunable resistance are three advantages of doped silicon oxide containing nanocrystalline silicon grains (nc-SiOx) compared to doped microcrystalline silicon, for the use as p- and n-type layers in thin-film silicon solar cells. In this study we show how optical, electrical and microstructural properties of nc-SiOx layers depend on precursor gas ratios and we propose a growth model to explain the phase separation in such films into Si-rich and O-rich regions as visualized by energy-filtered transmission electron microscopy.

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Advanced Light Trapping of High-Efficiency Thin Film Silicon Solar Cells

Japanese Journal of Applied Physics ◽

10.7567/jjap.51.10nb02 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 51 (10S) ◽

pp. 10NB02 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Tomomi Meguro ◽

Andrea Feltrin ◽

Takashi Suezaki ◽

Mitsuru Ichikawa ◽

Takashi Kuchiyama ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Thin Film ◽

Solar Cells ◽

High Efficiency ◽

Light Trapping ◽

Silicon Solar Cells ◽

Thin Film Silicon

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Triple-junction P-I-N and N-I-P Type Thin Film Silicon Solar Cells Based on High-rate Microcrystalline Silicon

International Photonics and Optoelectronics Meetings (POEM) ◽

10.1364/aoee.2013.asa4a.4 ◽

2013 ◽

Author(s):

Xiaodan Zhang ◽

Lisha Bai ◽

Bofei Liu ◽

Jian Ni ◽

Jun Ma ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Thin Film ◽

Solar Cells ◽

Triple Junction ◽

High Rate ◽

Silicon Solar Cells ◽

Microcrystalline Silicon ◽

Thin Film Silicon ◽

P Type

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Combined optical and electrical design of plasmonic back reflector for high-efficiency thin-film silicon solar cells

2012 IEEE 38th Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (PVSC) PART 2 ◽

10.1109/pvsc-vol2.2012.6656786 ◽

2012 ◽

Author(s):

Hairen Tan ◽

Rudi Santbergen ◽

Guangtao Yang ◽

Arno H. M. Smets ◽

Miro Zeman

Keyword(s):

Thin Film ◽

Solar Cells ◽

High Efficiency ◽

Silicon Solar Cells ◽

Thin Film Silicon ◽

Back Reflector

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Innovative Device Architecture for High Efficiency Thin Film Silicon Solar Cells

MRS Proceedings ◽

10.1557/opl.2012.889 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 1426 ◽

pp. 131-135

Author(s):

Mathieu Boccard ◽

Matthieu Despeisse ◽

Christophe Ballif

Keyword(s):

Thin Film ◽

Solar Cells ◽

High Efficiency ◽

Silicon Oxide ◽

Light Trapping ◽

Electrical Circuit ◽

Silicon Solar Cells ◽

Device Architecture ◽

Thin Film Silicon ◽

Photovoltaic Technologies

ABSTRACTThe challenge for all photovoltaic technologies is to maximize light absorption, convert photons with minimal losses to electrical charges and efficiently extract them towards the electrical circuit. For thin film silicon solar cells, a compromise must be found as light trapping is usually performed through textured interfaces, that are detrimental to the subsequent growth of dense and high quality silicon layers. We introduce here the concept of smoothening intermediate reflecting layers (IRL), enabling to combine high currents and good electrical quality in Micromorph devices in the superstrate configuration. After exposing the motivation for such structures, we validate the concept by showing a VOCenhancement when employing a polished silicon-oxide-based IRL. Shunting issues and additional reflection losses are pointed out with such technique, highlighting the need to develop alternative techniques for an efficient morphology adaptation before the microcrystalline silicon cell growth.

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