Real time spectroscopic ellipsometry for characterization and optimization of amorphous silicon-based solar cell structures

AbstractNew types of transparent conductive oxides with low indices of refraction have been developed for use in optical stacks for the amorphous silicon (a-Si) solar cell and other thin film applications. The alloys are ZnO based with Si and MgF added to reduce the index of the materials through the creation of SiO2 or MgF2, with n=1.3-1.4, or the addition of voids in the materials. Alloys with 12-14% Si or Mg have indices of refraction at λ=800nm between 1.6 and 1.7. These materials are presently being used in optical stacks to enhance light scattering by Al/multi-layer/ZnO back reflectors in a-Si based solar cells to increase light absorption in the semiconductor layers and increase open circuit currents and boost device efficiencies. In contrast to Ag/ZnO back reflectors which have long term stability issues due to electromigration of Ag, these Al based back reflectors should be stable and usable in manufactured PV products. In this manuscript, structural properties for the materials will be reported as well as the performance of solar cell devices made using these new types of materials.

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Characterization of μc-Si:H/a-Si:H tandem solar cell structures by spectroscopic ellipsometry

Thin Solid Films ◽

10.1016/j.tsf.2013.10.073 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 571 ◽

pp. 756-761 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Daisuke Murata ◽

Tetsuya Yuguchi ◽

Hiroyuki Fujiwara

Keyword(s):

Solar Cell ◽

Spectroscopic Ellipsometry ◽

Tandem Solar Cell ◽

Cell Structures

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Numerical Design of Ultrathin Hydrogenated Amorphous Silicon-Based Solar Cell

International Journal of Photoenergy ◽

10.1155/2021/7506837 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2021 ◽

pp. 1-13

Author(s):

F. X. Abomo Abega ◽

A. Teyou Ngoupo ◽

J. M. B. Ndjaka

Keyword(s):

Solar Cells ◽

Solar Cell ◽

Amorphous Silicon ◽

Buffer Layer ◽

Defect Density ◽

Hydrogenated Amorphous Silicon ◽

Theoretical Work ◽

Silicon Based ◽

The Impact ◽

Hydrogenated Amorphous

Numerical modelling is used to confirm experimental and theoretical work. The aim of this work is to present how to simulate ultrathin hydrogenated amorphous silicon- (a-Si:H-) based solar cells with a ITO BRL in their architectures. The results obtained in this study come from SCAPS-1D software. In the first step, the comparison between the J-V characteristics of simulation and experiment of the ultrathin a-Si:H-based solar cell is in agreement. Secondly, to explore the impact of certain properties of the solar cell, investigations focus on the study of the influence of the intrinsic layer and the buffer layer/absorber interface on the electrical parameters ( J SC , V OC , FF, and η ). The increase of the intrinsic layer thickness improves performance, while the bulk defect density of the intrinsic layer and the surface defect density of the buffer layer/ i -(a-Si:H) interface, respectively, in the ranges [109 cm-3, 1015 cm-3] and [1010 cm-2, 5 × 10 13 cm-2], do not affect the performance of the ultrathin a-Si:H-based solar cell. Analysis also shows that with approximately 1 μm thickness of the intrinsic layer, the optimum conversion efficiency is 12.71% ( J SC = 18.95 mA · c m − 2 , V OC = 0.973 V , and FF = 68.95 % ). This work presents a contribution to improving the performance of a-Si-based solar cells.

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Amorphous Silicon based Solar Cell Technologies: Status, Challenges, and Opportunities

MRS Proceedings ◽

10.1557/proc-808-a7.5 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 808 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Rajeewa R. Arya

Keyword(s):

Solar Cell ◽

Amorphous Silicon ◽

Commercial Application ◽

Amorphous Silicon Solar Cell ◽

Building Integrated Photovoltaic ◽

Photovoltaic Applications ◽

Challenges And Opportunities ◽

Module Development ◽

Silicon Based ◽

Conversion Efficiencies

ABSTRACTAdvances in amorphous silicon solar cell and module development over the past two decades has led to widespread commercial application in consumer and building integrated photovoltaic applications (BIPV). The technology has taken two pathways: (i) superstrate and (ii) substrate. Both pathways have unique advantages over crystalline modules and have demonstrated promising stability and reliability with continuous improvement in performance. Multi-junction modules with amorphous and microcrystalline silicon have demonstrated initial conversion efficiencies in the range of 13%-13.5%.

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