Comparison of silicon oxide and silicon carbide absorber materials in silicon thin-film solar cells
Since solar energy conversion by photovoltaics is most efficient for photon energies at the bandgap of the absorbing material the idea of combining absorber layers with different bandgaps in a multijunction cell has become popular. In silicon thin-film photovoltaics a multijunction stack with more t...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
EDP Sciences
2015-01-01
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| Series: | EPJ Photovoltaics |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/epjpv/2015003 |
| _version_ | 1818866141430284288 |
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| author | Walder Cordula Kellermann Martin Wendler Elke Rensberg Jura von Maydell Karsten Agert Carsten |
| author_facet | Walder Cordula Kellermann Martin Wendler Elke Rensberg Jura von Maydell Karsten Agert Carsten |
| author_sort | Walder Cordula |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Since solar energy conversion by photovoltaics is most efficient for photon energies at the bandgap of the absorbing material the idea of combining absorber layers with different bandgaps in a multijunction cell has become popular. In silicon thin-film photovoltaics a multijunction stack with more than two subcells requires a high bandgap amorphous silicon alloy top cell absorber to achieve an optimal bandgap combination. We address the question whether amorphous silicon carbide (a-SiC:H) or amorphous silicon oxide (a-SiO:H) is more suited for this type of top cell absorber. Our single cell results show a better performance of amorphous silicon carbide with respect to fill factor and especially open circuit voltage at equivalent Tauc bandgaps. The microstructure factor of single layers indicates less void structure in amorphous silicon carbide than in amorphous silicon oxide. Yet photoconductivity of silicon oxide films seems to be higher which could be explained by the material being not truly intrinsic. On the other hand better cell performance of amorphous silicon carbide absorber layers might be connected to better hole transport in the cell. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-19T10:58:44Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-66250545b4f34f4d9fa30d55831ccbda |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2105-0716 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-19T10:58:44Z |
| publishDate | 2015-01-01 |
| publisher | EDP Sciences |
| record_format | Article |
| series | EPJ Photovoltaics |
| spelling | doaj.art-66250545b4f34f4d9fa30d55831ccbda2022-12-21T20:24:43ZengEDP SciencesEPJ Photovoltaics2105-07162015-01-0166530210.1051/epjpv/2015003pv140017Comparison of silicon oxide and silicon carbide absorber materials in silicon thin-film solar cellsWalder Cordula0Kellermann Martin1Wendler Elke2Rensberg Jura3von Maydell Karsten4Agert Carsten5NEXT ENERGY · EWE Research Centre for Energy Technology at the University of OldenburgNEXT ENERGY · EWE Research Centre for Energy Technology at the University of OldenburgInstitut für Festkörperphysik, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität JenaInstitut für Festkörperphysik, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität JenaNEXT ENERGY · EWE Research Centre for Energy Technology at the University of OldenburgNEXT ENERGY · EWE Research Centre for Energy Technology at the University of OldenburgSince solar energy conversion by photovoltaics is most efficient for photon energies at the bandgap of the absorbing material the idea of combining absorber layers with different bandgaps in a multijunction cell has become popular. In silicon thin-film photovoltaics a multijunction stack with more than two subcells requires a high bandgap amorphous silicon alloy top cell absorber to achieve an optimal bandgap combination. We address the question whether amorphous silicon carbide (a-SiC:H) or amorphous silicon oxide (a-SiO:H) is more suited for this type of top cell absorber. Our single cell results show a better performance of amorphous silicon carbide with respect to fill factor and especially open circuit voltage at equivalent Tauc bandgaps. The microstructure factor of single layers indicates less void structure in amorphous silicon carbide than in amorphous silicon oxide. Yet photoconductivity of silicon oxide films seems to be higher which could be explained by the material being not truly intrinsic. On the other hand better cell performance of amorphous silicon carbide absorber layers might be connected to better hole transport in the cell.http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/epjpv/2015003 |
| spellingShingle | Walder Cordula Kellermann Martin Wendler Elke Rensberg Jura von Maydell Karsten Agert Carsten Comparison of silicon oxide and silicon carbide absorber materials in silicon thin-film solar cells EPJ Photovoltaics |
| title | Comparison of silicon oxide and silicon carbide absorber materials in silicon thin-film solar cells |
| title_full | Comparison of silicon oxide and silicon carbide absorber materials in silicon thin-film solar cells |
| title_fullStr | Comparison of silicon oxide and silicon carbide absorber materials in silicon thin-film solar cells |
| title_full_unstemmed | Comparison of silicon oxide and silicon carbide absorber materials in silicon thin-film solar cells |
| title_short | Comparison of silicon oxide and silicon carbide absorber materials in silicon thin-film solar cells |
| title_sort | comparison of silicon oxide and silicon carbide absorber materials in silicon thin film solar cells |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/epjpv/2015003 |
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