Low-band-gap, amorphous-silicon-based alloys by chemical vapor deposition: Annual subcontract report, 1 October 1985-31 January 1986
This research was conducted to determine the potential of photochemical vapor deposition (photo-CVD) for producing high-quality, low-band-gap amorphous silicon germanium alloys for use in high-efficiency, multijunction, thin-film photovoltaic solar cells. A photo-CVD reactor for mercury-sensitized photolysis of silane-germane and disilane-germane mixtures was developed. Alloy thin films of undoped a-Si/sub 1-x/Ge/sub x/:H were deposited using mercury vapor mixed with SiH/sub 4/ or Si/sub 2/H/sub 6/, GeH/sub 4/, and diluent gas of Ar, He, or H/sub 2/. Materials properties were characterized by measurements of Ge content, optical transmission and reflection, and dark and photo-conductivity. Opto-electronic properties of photo-CVD a-Si/sub 1-x/Ge/sub x/:H were found to be comparable to glow discharge and sputtered materials. Moreover, p-i-n solar cells with low-band-gap i-layers were able to be fabricated by photo-CVD.
- Research Organization:
- Delaware Univ., Newark (USA). Inst. of Energy Conversion; Solar Energy Research Inst. (SERI), Golden, CO (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC02-83CH10093
- OSTI ID:
- 6822853
- Report Number(s):
- SERI/STR-211-3035; ON: DE87001137
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products. Original copy available until stock is exhausted
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
SILICON ALLOYS
CHEMICAL VAPOR DEPOSITION
AMORPHOUS STATE
CHEMICAL REACTORS
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
ENERGY GAP
FABRICATION
GERMANIUM ALLOYS
PHOTOCHEMICAL REACTIONS
SILANES
SILICON SOLAR CELLS
ALLOYS
CHEMICAL COATING
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DEPOSITION
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
EQUIPMENT
HYDRIDES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC SILICON COMPOUNDS
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
SILICON COMPOUNDS
SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SURFACE COATING
140501* - Solar Energy Conversion- Photovoltaic Conversion