Thin-film silicon solar cells with optical confinement and their fabrication by solution growth

Thesis/Dissertation · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1986

OSTI ID:5428868

Mauk, M G

A new thin-film silicon solar cell is designed and fabricated. The design incorporates optical confinement (due to light trapping in the thin silicon layers) and surface passivation. These features can lead to high conversion efficiency in unconventionally thin structures. A novel fabrication process based on metallic solution growth of silicon is used to produce experimental devices. A silicon substrate is textured and coated with an oxide film. Microscopic holes are etched in the oxide film, which serve as sites of selective nucleation upon contact with a supersaturated silicon/metal liquid solution. Subsequent lateral overgrowth results in a continuous single-crystal film of silicon formed over the oxide. A second silicon film is deposited over the first to form a p-n junction solar cell. The oxide interface acts as a (Lambertian) diffuse back reflector of photons for optical confinement and also provides a degree of back-surface passivation. Because the substrate is not an active part of the device, it can be of low quality for reduced cost. This approach thus combines the high efficiency and stability inherent in crystalline silicon devices with the low cost associated with thin-film deposition on inexpensive substrates. A detailed analysis and computer-based model of device performance is given.

• Research Organization: Delaware Univ., Newark (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5428868
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140501* -- Solar Energy Conversion-- Photovoltaic Conversion
DESIGN
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
EQUIPMENT
FABRICATION
FILMS
JUNCTIONS
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
P-N JUNCTIONS
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
SEMICONDUCTOR JUNCTIONS
SILICON SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SUBSTRATES
THIN FILMS