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Joshua M. Pearce >
Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:
http://hdl.handle.net/1974/6431
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| Title: | Optimization of Open-Circuit Voltage in Amorphous Silicon Solar Cells with Mixed Phase (Amorphous + Nanocrystalline) p-Type Contacts of Low Nanocrystalline Content |
| Authors: | Pearce, J. M.
Podraza, N.
Collins, R. W.
Al-Jassim, M.M.
Jones, K.M.
Deng, J.
Wronski, C. R. |
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| Keywords: | VOC
solar cell
photovoltaic
amorphous silicon
protocrystallinity
solar energy
open circuit voltage
nanocrystal
solar
a-Si:H |
| Issue Date: | 2007 |
| Publisher: | AIP |
| Citation: | J. M. Pearce, N. Podraza, R. W. Collins, M.M. Al-Jassim, K.M. Jones, J. Deng, and C. R. Wronski “Optimization of Open-Circuit Voltage in Amorphous Silicon Solar Cells with Mixed Phase (Amorphous + Nanocrystalline) p-Type Contacts of Low Nanocrystalline Content”, Journal of Applied Physics, 101(11), 114301, 2007. http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.2714507 |
| Abstract: | Both the origins of the high open circuit voltages ͑VOC͒ in amorphous silicon solar cells having p layers prepared with very high hydrogen dilution and the physical structure of these optimum p layers remain poorly understood topics, with several studies offering conflicting views. This work
attempts to overcome the limitations of previous studies by combining insights available from electronic measurements, real time spectroscopic ellipsometry, atomic force microscopy, and both high-resolution transmission electron microscopy ͑TEM͒ and dark field TEM of cross sections of
entire solar cells. It is found that solar cells fabricated with p layers having a low volume fraction of nanocrystals embedded in a protocrystalline Si:H matrix possess lower recombination at the i / p interface than standard cells and deliver a higher VOC. The growth of the p layers follows a thickness
evolution in which pure protocrystalline character is observed at the interface to the i layer. However, a low density of nanocrystallites nucleates with increasing thickness. The advantages offered by the protocrystalline character associated with the amorphous phase of the mixed-phase
͑amorphous+ nanocrystalline͒ p layers prepared with excess H2 dilution account for the improved VOC of the optimum p layers. In this model, the appearance of a low volume fraction of nanocrystals near the top transparent conductor interface is proposed to be incidental to the high VOC. |
| URI: | http://hdl.handle.net/1974/6431 |
| Appears in Collections: | Joshua M. Pearce
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