Remarkable progress in thin-film silicon solar cells using high-efficiency triple-junction technology

Kim, Soo‐Hyun; Chung, Jin-Woo; Lee, Hyun; Park, Jinhee; Heo, Youn-Ho; Lee, Heon-Min

doi:10.1016/j.solmat.2013.04.016

Cited by 166 publications

(94 citation statements)

References 42 publications

(55 reference statements)

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“…Wide band gap n-type and p-type hydrogenated microcrystalline silicon oxide (μc-SiO:H) films can be grown by PECVD with high conductivities [107][108][109][110]. A study using electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) combined with transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Rutherford backscattering on typical µc -SiO:H layers for thin film silicon revealed that this material consists of a mixed phase matrix of SiO and Si filaments with an oxygen atomic content x, between 0.4 and 0.8 [108].…”

Section: Pin Solar Cellsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Applications of Oxide Coatings in Photovoltaic Devices

Calnan

2014

Coatings

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Metalloid and metal based oxides are an almost unavoidable component in the majority of solar cell technologies used at the time of writing this review. Numerous studies have shown increases of ≥1% absolute in solar cell efficiency by simply substituting a given layer in the material stack with an oxide. Depending on the stoichiometry and whether other elements are present, oxides can be used for the purpose of light management, passivation of electrical defects, photo-carrier generation, charge separation, and charge transport in a solar cell. In this review, the most commonly used oxides whose benefits for solar cells have been proven both in a laboratory and industrial environment are discussed. Additionally, developing trends in the use of oxides, as well as newer oxide materials, and deposition technologies for solar cells are reported.

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Section: Pin Solar Cellsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Applications of Oxide Coatings in Photovoltaic Devices

Calnan

2014

Coatings

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“…This material makes use of the high electrical conductivity of doped µ cSi:H and the high optical transparency of amorphous silicon oxide [73,86]. A small fraction of highly conductive small-area (1 cm × 1 cm) triple-junction solar cells [87]. Another material family showing promise as the top highly conductive window is microcrystalline hydrogenated silicon carbide (µ c-SiC:H), which is naturally n-type [88].…”

Section: Microcrystalline Si and "Micromorph" Solar Cellsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Amorphous and micromorph Si solar cells: current status and outlook

Avrutin¹,

Izyumskaya²,

Morkoç³

2014

Turk J Phys

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An overview of the current status and prospects of thin-film Si photovoltaics, including both hydrogenated amorphous and microcrystalline Si as well their combination known as micromorph solar cells, with a major focus on the technological development is given. Although thin-film Si solar cells have been one of the first commercially successful photovoltaic devices, today they face a tremendous challenge from variety of bulk Si technologies (mono-and multicrystalline Si) and compound-semiconductor thin-film solar cells, both of which have managed to substantially reduce the production cost and improve power conversion efficiency. Thin-film Si photovoltaics benefiting from the mighty mainstream Si industry have demonstrated the ability to reduce the production cost and cost per peak power; however, the performance improvement of amorphous-Si panels has been only marginal and further progress is hard to expect. The power conversion efficiencies of micromorph solar cells have already exceeded those of amorphous-Si devices.However, to improve their market penetration and even to hold their current share, the micromorph Si solar modules need to improve their performance, which today is approaching 11%, along the path to potential 15%, while keeping the manufacturing cost low. Further progress will require the improvement of light-trapping technologies and contact performance.

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“…The most common TCOs used as front electrodes for TF-Si solar cells in the superstrate (p-i-n) configuration are aluminum-doped zinc oxide (ZnO:Al) deposited by sputtering [12,13], boron-doped zinc oxide (ZnO:B) grown by low-pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD) [14] and fluorine-doped tin oxide (SnO 2 :F) grown by atmospheric-pressure chemical vapor deposition (APCVD) [15,16].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Highly transparent front electrodes with metal fingers for p-i-n thin-film silicon solar cells

et al. 2015

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The optical and electrical properties of transparent conductive oxides (TCOs), traditionally used in thin-film silicon (TF-Si) solar cells as front-electrode materials, are interlinked, such that an increase in TCO transparency is generally achieved at the cost of reduced lateral conductance. Combining a highly transparent TCO front electrode of moderate conductance with metal fingers to support charge collection is a well-established technique in wafer-based technologies or for TF-Si solar cells in the substrate (n-i-p) configuration. Here, we extend this concept to TF-Si solar cells in the superstrate (p-i-n) configuration. The metal fingers are used in conjunction with a millimeter-scale textured foil, attached to the glass superstrate, which provides an antireflective and retroreflective effect; the latter effect mitigates the shadowing losses induced by the metal fingers. As a result, a substantial increase in power conversion efficiency, from 8.7% to 9.1%, is achieved for 1-µm-thick microcrystalline silicon solar cells deposited on a highly transparent thermally treated aluminum-doped zinc oxide layer combined with silver fingers, compared to cells deposited on a state-of-the-art zinc oxide layer.

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Remarkable progress in thin-film silicon solar cells using high-efficiency triple-junction technology

Cited by 166 publications

References 42 publications

Applications of Oxide Coatings in Photovoltaic Devices

Applications of Oxide Coatings in Photovoltaic Devices

Amorphous and micromorph Si solar cells: current status and outlook

Highly transparent front electrodes with metal fingers for p-i-n thin-film silicon solar cells

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