A Review of Different Techniques for Improving the Performance of Amorphous Silicon based Solar Cells

Abstract

Hydrogeneted amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) based solar cells are promising candidates for future developments in the photovoltaic industry. In fact, amorphous silicon technology offers significant advantages including low cost fabrication and possibility to deposition on flexible substrat as well as low temperature fabrication. Much progress has been made since the first single junction cell in amorphous silicon made in 1976 by Carlson and Wronski. However, the performance of the solar cells based on a-Si:H is limited by the high defect density and degradation induced by exposure to light, or Staebler-Wronski effect. To become competitive, the performance of the solar cells based on a-Si:H must be improved. In order to improve the performance of a-Si:H solar cells, much research is directed to optimization techniques. The improvement in performance is therefore based on the optimization of the different layers of the solar cell, in particular, the window layer and the absorber layer (intrinsic). The aim of this work is to give an overview on the different techniques and strategies that is used to improve the performance of solar cell. This work is therefore focus in three main areas: first, optimization of window layer, in particular, the p/i interface using wide band gap alloys such as a-SiC:H, second development of high quality absorber layer using band gap engineering, and alloys such as a-SiGe:H. last, optimizing n-type layer and i/n interface.

Numerical Simulation of a Textured and Untextured Photovoltaic Solar Cell: Comparative study

“…Solar energy is the most promising and powerful of the renewable energy sources [1]. Photovoltaic electricity is produced by converting sunlight directly into electricity using photovoltaic cells [2].…”

Window Layer Thickness Effect on Amorphous Silicon Oxide Solar Cell Performances

“…This window layer demands high conductivity, high optical transparency and wide optical band gap. The use of wide band gap window material has opened a way for high performance amorphous silicon based a-Si:H solar cells [7] Wide band gap hydrogenated p-type amorphous silicon oxide p-a-SiOx: H was developed by ichikawa et al [8] group as a window material, to replace the wide band gap p-type hydrogenated amorphous silicon carbide p-a-SiC: H. to minimize the absorption loss the thickness of window layers needs to be carefully designed to provide sufficient charge because this layer grant the paasage of light to the active layer.…”