Tailoring SnO2, (Mg,Zn)O, and Ga:(Mg,Zn)O electro-optical properties and stability for solar cells

Good, Brian; Ablekim, Tursun; Khan, Imran; Reese, Matthew; Zakutayev, Andriy; Metzger, Wyatt

doi:10.1088/1361-6463/abb901

Title: Tailoring SnO₂, (Mg,Zn)O, and Ga:(Mg,Zn)O electro-optical properties and stability for solar cells

Journal Article · Wed Sep 16 00:00:00 EDT 2020 · Journal of Physics. D, Applied Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6463/abb901· OSTI ID:1665857

^[1]; Ablekim, Tursun ^[2];

^[2]; Reese, Matthew ^[2];

^[2]; Metzger, Wyatt ^[2]

National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States); Univ. of Illinois at Chicago, IL (United States)
National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)

The electron density, mobility, bandgap, and band alignment of transparent conducting oxides (TCOs) can be tailored by adjusting composition and stoichiometry, thereby enabling interface engineering for diverse semiconductor applications. For example, solar cell efficiency can change enormously by adjusting TCO properties. At the same time, these TCO properties can shift during the deposition of other layers, anneals, and device operation. An ideal TCO should have tunable but stable electro-optical properties. Here, we deposit SnO₂, (Mg,Zn)O (MZO), and Ga:(Mg,Zn)O (GMZO) films on glass and measure electro-optical characteristics before and after reducing, inert, oxidizing, and CdCl2 anneals over a range of temperatures. Electron density generally increases in the progression from oxidizing to inert and reducing ambients. SnO₂ is relatively stable compared to MZO but has less flexibility for interface engineering. We investigate GMZO as a similar but more stable alternative to MZO.The addition of Ga to MZO has significant effects on electron density and improves electro-optical stability, which can be advantageous for semiconductor applications. Furthermore, we demonstrate that GMZO can be readily incorporated into solar cells.

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Research Organization:: National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC36-08GO28308

OSTI ID:: 1665857

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1686248

Report Number(s):: NREL/JA-5K00-77059; MainId:25022; UUID:d7b8ebb5-2a87-408a-b74f-ff44635ba5a2; MainAdminID:18502

Journal Information:: Journal of Physics. D, Applied Physics, Vol. 54, Issue 3; ISSN 0022-3727

Publisher:: IOP PublishingCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Title: Tailoring SnO2, (Mg,Zn)O, and Ga:(Mg,Zn)O electro-optical properties and stability for solar cells

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Title: Tailoring SnO₂, (Mg,Zn)O, and Ga:(Mg,Zn)O electro-optical properties and stability for solar cells