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Controlled Dielectric Breakdown to Form Pinhole Passivated Contacts

Conference ·
OSTI ID:1862352
This contribution explores a low-temperature route to forming dielectric pinholes to form poly-Si/dielectric/c-Si passivated contacts. The method utilizes controlled dielectric breakdown to form nanoscale pinholes in a thick (non-tunnelling) dielectric which, when annealed, allows dopant atoms to pass from doped poly-Si through the dielectric and into the c-Si wafer forming conductive pathways. We show that the pinholes can be repassivated with dopants and H diffusion which results in increased PL signals after processing. The method can be expanded to optimized dielectric passivation stacks (not just a single layer) and can be formed in parallel over the faces of the wafer in selected areas (only under the grid).
Research Organization:
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Solar Energy Technologies Office (EE-4S)
DOE Contract Number:
AC36-08GO28308
OSTI ID:
1862352
Report Number(s):
NREL/PO-5900-82427; MainId:83200; UUID:a07b0c1e-3991-445f-bed8-86db4974399f; MainAdminID:64126
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English