Development of diamondlike (i-carbon) thin films as antireflecting coatings for silicon solar cells

Journal Article · Mon Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1982 · J. Vac. Sci. Technol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1116/1.571459· OSTI ID:5688546

Moravec, T J; Lee, J C

There is a need for stable, single layer antireflecting (AR) coatings for low cost terrestrial silicon solar cells. Diamond-like (i-carbon) carbon thin films produced by decomposition of hydrocarbon gases have been studied to determine if these films can be developed into AR coatings for silicon. Such coatings would require a refractive index, n (film)approx. =1.9 = ..sqrt..n (silicon).We determined the optical constants n and k over a large range of process parameters and source gas for the diamond-like carbon films and will report these results. The degree of hydrogen incorporation in these films has also been studied by SIMS analysis. It was found that the lower visible light absorbing films contain more hydrogen. This does not, however, manifest itself in fundamental C--H absorption bands in the infrared. Very efficient single-layer quarterwave i-C AR coatings napprox. =1.9 have been produced on single crystal and silicon-on-ceramic Si solar cells. An increase in cell efficiency of 40% over uncoated cells has been achieved.

• Research Organization: Honeywell Corporate Technology Center, Bloomington, Minnesota 55420
• OSTI ID: 5688546
• Journal Information: J. Vac. Sci. Technol.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Vac. Sci. Technol.; (United States) Vol. 20:3; ISSN JVSTA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140501* -- Solar Energy Conversion-- Photovoltaic Conversion
ANTIREFLECTION COATINGS
CARBON
CHEMICAL COATING
CHEMICAL VAPOR DEPOSITION
COATINGS
CRYSTALS
DEPOSITION
DIAMONDS
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
EFFICIENCY
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELEMENTAL MINERALS
ELEMENTS
EQUIPMENT
FABRICATION
FILMS
FLUIDS
GASES
HYDROCARBONS
INFRARED RADIATION
IONIZATION GAGES
LAYERS
LIGHT TRANSMISSION
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MINERALS
MONOCRYSTALS
NONMETALS
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PRESSURE GAGES
RADIATIONS
REFLECTIVITY
SEMIMETALS
SILICON
SILICON SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SURFACE COATING
SURFACE PROPERTIES
VACUUM GAGES
VISIBLE RADIATION