Improvement of Amorphous Silicon Thin-Film Photovoltaic Cells with Zinc Oxide Nanorods
In this study, zinc oxide nanorods (ZnO NRs) were produced using a chemical solution method, which was applied to the surfaces of amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) thin-film photovoltaic cells as an anti-reflective layer (ARL). ZnO NRs of different lengths were grown on Si substrates by controlling the gro...
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MDPI AG
2020-12-01
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| Series: | Crystals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/10/12/1124 |
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| author | Fang-I Lai Jui-Fu Yang Yu-Chao Hsu Shou-Yi Kuo |
| author_facet | Fang-I Lai Jui-Fu Yang Yu-Chao Hsu Shou-Yi Kuo |
| author_sort | Fang-I Lai |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In this study, zinc oxide nanorods (ZnO NRs) were produced using a chemical solution method, which was applied to the surfaces of amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) thin-film photovoltaic cells as an anti-reflective layer (ARL). ZnO NRs of different lengths were grown on Si substrates by controlling the growth time. They were then analyzed using an X-ray diffractometer (XRD), UV-vis spectrometer, and field-emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), thereby obtaining the optimal growth conditions for ZnO NRs. The optimal growth parameters were applied to the surface of a-Si:H thin-film photovoltaic cells. The results show that the short-circuit current density increased from 6.23 mA/cm<sup>2</sup> to 8.05 mA/cm<sup>2</sup>, and the efficiency increased from 3.49% to 4.51%, an increase of approximately 29%. In addition, ZnO NRs growing on the surfaces of a-Si:H thin-film photovoltaic cells can reduce the hydrophilicity. The experimental results show that ZnO NRs have great application potential, not only for improving the conversion efficiency, but also for protecting the devices from external environmental influences. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T14:11:35Z |
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| id | doaj.art-46019200b837486b8a6cb3f196b586ce |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4352 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T14:11:35Z |
| publishDate | 2020-12-01 |
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| series | Crystals |
| spelling | doaj.art-46019200b837486b8a6cb3f196b586ce2023-11-21T00:08:03ZengMDPI AGCrystals2073-43522020-12-011012112410.3390/cryst10121124Improvement of Amorphous Silicon Thin-Film Photovoltaic Cells with Zinc Oxide NanorodsFang-I Lai0Jui-Fu Yang1Yu-Chao Hsu2Shou-Yi Kuo3Electrical Engineering Program C, Yuan-Ze University, Chung-Li 32003, TaiwanDepartment of Electronic Engineering, Chang Gung University, Kwei-Shan, Taoyuan 333, TaiwanDepartment of Urology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kwei-Shan, Taoyuan 333, TaiwanDepartment of Electronic Engineering, Chang Gung University, Kwei-Shan, Taoyuan 333, TaiwanIn this study, zinc oxide nanorods (ZnO NRs) were produced using a chemical solution method, which was applied to the surfaces of amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) thin-film photovoltaic cells as an anti-reflective layer (ARL). ZnO NRs of different lengths were grown on Si substrates by controlling the growth time. They were then analyzed using an X-ray diffractometer (XRD), UV-vis spectrometer, and field-emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), thereby obtaining the optimal growth conditions for ZnO NRs. The optimal growth parameters were applied to the surface of a-Si:H thin-film photovoltaic cells. The results show that the short-circuit current density increased from 6.23 mA/cm<sup>2</sup> to 8.05 mA/cm<sup>2</sup>, and the efficiency increased from 3.49% to 4.51%, an increase of approximately 29%. In addition, ZnO NRs growing on the surfaces of a-Si:H thin-film photovoltaic cells can reduce the hydrophilicity. The experimental results show that ZnO NRs have great application potential, not only for improving the conversion efficiency, but also for protecting the devices from external environmental influences.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/10/12/1124ZnO nanorodsanti-reflective layersa-Si:H thin-film photovoltaic cell |
| spellingShingle | Fang-I Lai Jui-Fu Yang Yu-Chao Hsu Shou-Yi Kuo Improvement of Amorphous Silicon Thin-Film Photovoltaic Cells with Zinc Oxide Nanorods Crystals ZnO nanorods anti-reflective layers a-Si:H thin-film photovoltaic cell |
| title | Improvement of Amorphous Silicon Thin-Film Photovoltaic Cells with Zinc Oxide Nanorods |
| title_full | Improvement of Amorphous Silicon Thin-Film Photovoltaic Cells with Zinc Oxide Nanorods |
| title_fullStr | Improvement of Amorphous Silicon Thin-Film Photovoltaic Cells with Zinc Oxide Nanorods |
| title_full_unstemmed | Improvement of Amorphous Silicon Thin-Film Photovoltaic Cells with Zinc Oxide Nanorods |
| title_short | Improvement of Amorphous Silicon Thin-Film Photovoltaic Cells with Zinc Oxide Nanorods |
| title_sort | improvement of amorphous silicon thin film photovoltaic cells with zinc oxide nanorods |
| topic | ZnO nanorods anti-reflective layers a-Si:H thin-film photovoltaic cell |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/10/12/1124 |
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