Research on stable, high-efficiency, amorphous silicon multijunction modules. Annual subcontract report, 1 May 1991--30 April 1992

Technical Report · Sat Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1992

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/10170186· OSTI ID:10170186

Catalano, A; Bennett, M; Chen, L; D`Aiello, R; Fieselmann, B; Li, Y; Newton, J; Podlesny, R; Yang, L ^[1]

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1. Solarex Corp., Newtown, PA (United States). Thin Film Div.

This report describes work to demonstrate a multijunction module with a ``stabilized`` efficiency (600 h, 50{degrees}C, AM1.5) of 10.5%. Triple-junction devices and modules using a-Si:H alloys with carbon and germanium were developed to meet program goals. ZnO was used to provide a high optical transmission front contact. Proof of concept was obtained for several important advances deemed to be important for obtaining high (12.5%) stabilized efficiency. They were (1) stable, high-quality a-SiC:H devices and (2) high-transmission, textured ZnO. Although these developments were not scaled up and included in modules, triple-junction module efficiencies as high as 10.85% were demonstrated. NREL measured 9.62% and 9.00% indoors and outdoors, respectively. The modules are expected to lose no more than 20% of their initial performance. 28 refs.

• Research Organization: National Renewable Energy Lab., Golden, CO (United States); Solarex Corp., Newtown, PA (United States). Thin Film Div.
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-83CH10093
• OSTI ID: 10170186
• Report Number(s): NREL/TP--411-4995; ON: DE92010599
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140501
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360602
360606
AMORPHOUS STATE
CARBON
CHEMICAL VAPOR DEPOSITION
EFFICIENCY
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
GERMANIUM
MICROSTRUCTURE
PHOTOVOLTAIC CONVERSION
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PROGRESS REPORT
RECOMBINATION
SEMICONDUCTOR JUNCTIONS
SEMICONDUCTOR MATERIALS
SILICON
SILICON SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR CELLS
STRUCTURE AND PHASE STUDIES
ZINC OXIDES