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Title: Comparison of Dominant Electron Trap Levels in n-Type and p-Type GaAsN Using Deep-Level Transient Spectroscopy

Conference ·
OSTI ID:882597

Higher-efficiency solar cells improve the likelihood that concentrator photovoltaic systems will become cost effective. A four-junction GaAs- and Ge-based solar cell incorporating a 1-eV bandgap material has an ideal AM0 efficiency of ~40% and could also be used in a terrestrial concentrator module. The dilute-N GaAsN alloy's bandgap can be reduced to near 1 eV when the nitrogen content is 2% - 3%. Indium can also be added to the alloy to improve lattice matching to GaAs and Ge. We have used deep-level transient spectroscopy (DLTS) to characterize traps in both p-type and n-type GaAsN. For each type of material, the dominant DLTS signal corresponds to an electron trap having an activation energy of about 0.35 eV for p-type GaAsN and about 0.45 eV for n-type GaAsN. In both types of materials, the trap concentrations, modified by ..lambda..-effect factors, increase with both increasing N content and increased doping.

Research Organization:
National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
AC36-99-GO10337
OSTI ID:
882597
Report Number(s):
NREL/CP-520-38916
Resource Relation:
Related Information: Presented at the 2005 DOE Solar Energy Technologies Program Review Meeting held November 7-10, 2005 in Denver, Colorado. Also included in the proceedings available on CD-ROM (DOE/GO-1020060-2245; NREL/CD-520-38577)
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English