scholarly journals Integration of Expanding Thermal Plasma deposited Hydrogenated Amorphous Silicon in Solar Cells

2002 ◽  
Vol 715 ◽  
Author(s):  
B.A. Korevaar ◽  
C. Smit ◽  
A.M.H.N. Petit ◽  
R.A.C.M.M. van Swaaij ◽  
M.C.M. van de Sanden
Keyword(s):  
Amorphous Silicon ◽  
Buffer Layer ◽  
Thermal Plasma ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Fill Factor ◽  
Defect Density ◽  
Hydrogenated Amorphous Silicon ◽  
Temperature Limit ◽  
Cell Efficiency ◽  
Hydrogenated Amorphous

AbstractA cascaded arc expanding thermal plasma is used to deposit intrinsic hydrogenated amorphous silicon at growth rates between 0.2 and 3 nm/s. Incorporation into a single junction p-i-n solar cell resulted in an initial efficiency of 6.7%, whereas all the optical and initial electrical properties of the individual layers are comparable with RF-PECVD deposited films. In this cell the intrinsic layer was deposited at 0.85 nm/s and at a deposition temperature of 250°C, which is the temperature limit for growing the p-i-n sequence. The cell efficiency is limited by the fill factor and using a buffer layer at the p-i interface deposited with RF-PECVD at low growth rate can increase this. The increase in fill factor is a result of a lower initial defect density near the p-i interface then obtained with the expanding thermal plasma, resulting in better charge carrier collection. To use larger growth rates, while maintaining the material properties, higher deposition temperatures are required. Higher deposition temperatures result in a smaller optical bandgap for the intrinsic layer and deterioration of the p-type layer, resulting in a lower opencircuit voltage. First results on applying a buffer layer will also be presented.

scholarly journals Numerical Design of Ultrathin Hydrogenated Amorphous Silicon-Based Solar Cell

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.

Radio Frequency Power Dependence of Defect Density at Hydrogenated Amorphous Silicon Interface

1991 ◽  
Vol 237 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hisanori Ihara ◽  
Takeo Sakakubo ◽  
Hidetoshi Nozaki
Keyword(s):  
Radio Frequency ◽  
Amorphous Silicon ◽  
Buffer Layer ◽  
Defect Density ◽  
Hydrogenated Amorphous Silicon ◽  
Rf Power ◽  
Interface Defect ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Silicon Interface ◽  
Hydrogenated Amorphous

ABSTRACTA hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) interface fabrication technology for the plasma CVD method, which can produce low interface defect density, is presented. The relation between the interface defect density and radio frequency (RF) power was investigated. As a result, the difference between the interface defect density and the bulk defect density decreased with increasing the RF power. A high RF power (25 W) a-Si:H buffer layer 5 nm thick was deposited on the interface before depositing low RF power (5 W) a-Si:H layer with a low bulk defect density. It has been found that the ideal defect density distribution, which shows the uniform distribution with the very low defect density (4.2×1014 cm) from the i/i interface to the bulk, can be accomplished by 5 nm buffer layer.

scholarly journals A Study of Electronic Defects in Hydrogenated Amorphous Silicon Prepared by the Expanding Thermal Plasma Technique

2003 ◽  
Vol 762 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steve Reynolds ◽  
Charlie Main ◽  
Ivica Zrinscak ◽  
Zdravka Aneva ◽  
Diana Nesheva
Keyword(s):  
Amorphous Silicon ◽  
Thermal Plasma ◽  
Defect Density ◽  
Hydrogenated Amorphous Silicon ◽  
Band Tail ◽  
Plasma Technique ◽  
Transient Photoconductivity ◽  
Electronic Defects ◽  
Hydrogenated Amorphous ◽  
Deposition Conditions

AbstractThe electronic properties of amorphous silicon films prepared by the expanding thermal plasma technique have been studied using steady-state and transient photoconductivity measurements. It is found that films deposited at a substrate temperature of 400°C have a conduction band tail slope of 29 meV, deep defect density of order 3×1016 cm-3, an Urbach tail slope of 65 meV, defect absorption of 5-10 cm-1, and a mobility-lifetime product of 1.3×10-7 cm2 V-1. Aslight increase in defect density and reduction in mobility-lifetime product is observed on moderate light-soaking. The overall optoelectronic quality is somewhat poorer than commercial PECVD material, but there is scope for improvement as deposition conditions are further optimised.

Defect Density Profiling in Light-Soaked and Annealed Hydrogenated Amorphous Silicon Solar Cells

2001 ◽  
Vol 664 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard S. Crandall ◽  
Jeffrey Yang ◽  
Subhendu Guha
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Solar Cell ◽  
Amorphous Silicon ◽  
Central Region ◽  
Defect Density ◽  
Hydrogenated Amorphous Silicon ◽  
Silicon Solar Cells ◽  
Solar Cell Efficiency ◽  
Cell Efficiency ◽  
Hydrogenated Amorphous

ABSTRACTThe fundamental ingredient lacking in solar cell modeling is the spatial distribution of defects. To gain this information, we use drive-level capacitance profiling (DLCP) on hydrogenated amorphous silicon solar cells. We find the following: Near the p-i interface the defect density is high, decreasing rapidly into the interior, reaching low values in the central region of the cell, and rising rapidly again at the n-i interface. The states in the central region are neutral dangling-bond defects whose density agrees with those typically found in similar films. However, those near the interfaces with the doped layers are charged dangling bonds in agreement with the predictions of defect thermodynamics. We correlate the changes in solar cell efficiency owing to intense illumination with changes in the defect density throughout the cell. Defects in the central region of the cell increase to values typically found in companion films. We describe the measurements and interpretation of DLCP for solar cells with the aid of a solar cell simulation.

Reduction of the Defect Density in a-Si:H Deposited at ≤250°C

1993 ◽  
Vol 297 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hitoshi Nishio ◽  
Gautam Ganguly ◽  
Akihisa Matsuda
Keyword(s):  
Diffusion Coefficient ◽  
Amorphous Silicon ◽  
Surface Diffusion ◽  
Film Growth ◽  
Defect Density ◽  
Hydrogenated Amorphous Silicon ◽  
Device Fabrication ◽  
Surface Diffusion Coefficient ◽  
Hydrogenated Amorphous ◽  
Substrate Temperatures

We present a method to reduce the defect density in hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) deposited at low substrate temperatures similar to those used for device fabrication . Film-growth precursors are energized by a heated mesh to enhance their surface diffusion coefficient and this enables them to saturate more surface dangling bonds.

Improved Light Soaking Stability of R.F. Sputter Deposited Amorphous Silicon

1991 ◽  
Vol 219 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Wynveen ◽  
J. Fan ◽  
J. Kakalios ◽  
J. Shinar
Keyword(s):  
Amorphous Silicon ◽  
Hydrogen Content ◽  
Defect Density ◽  
Hydrogenated Amorphous Silicon ◽  
Dark Conductivity ◽  
Initial Defect ◽  
Optical Gap ◽  
Sputter Deposited ◽  
Staebler Wronski Effect ◽  
Hydrogenated Amorphous

ABSTRACTStudies of r.f. sputter deposited hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) find that the light induced decrease in the dark conductivity and photoconductivity (the Staebler-Wronski effect) is reduced when the r.f. power used during deposition is increased. The slower Staebler-Wronski effect is not due to an increase in the initial defect density in the high r.f. power samples, but may result from either the lower hydrogen content or the smaller optical gap found in these films.

Saturation behavior of the light-induced defect density in hydrogenated amorphous silicon (solar cells)

2002 ◽  
Author(s):  
H.R. Park ◽  
J.Z. Liu ◽  
P. Roca i Cabarrocas ◽  
A. Maruyama ◽  
M. Isomura ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Amorphous Silicon ◽  
Defect Density ◽  
Hydrogenated Amorphous Silicon ◽  
Silicon Solar Cells ◽  
Hydrogenated Amorphous

Effect of Deposition-Induced Annealable Defects on Light-Induced Defect Generation in a-Si:H

1993 ◽  
Vol 297 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jong-Hwan Yoon
Keyword(s):  
Amorphous Silicon ◽  
Defect Density ◽  
Hydrogenated Amorphous Silicon ◽  
Generation Rate ◽  
Defect Generation ◽  
Saturated State ◽  
Microscopic Models ◽  
Hydrogenated Amorphous ◽  
Substrate Temperatures

In this paper we present a method to determine the annealable defect density(ΔNann) present in hydrogenated amorphous silicon(a-Si:H). The effects of the annealable defects on the light-induced defect generation rate, saturated defect density (Nsat) and the change of defect density in the light-induced saturated state(ΔNsat) have been studied. Annealable defect density was varied by depositing samples at various substrate temperatures or by post-growth anneals of samples grown at low substrate temperatures. It is found that the generation rate, N satand ΔNsat are well correlated with ΔNann. In particular, the ΔNsat is found to follow a relation ΔNsat ≈ ΔNann. These results suggest that defect-related microscopic models are appropriate for light-induced metastability.

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