Research on Stable High Efficiency Amorphous Silicon Multijunction Modules, Semiannual Technical Progress Report, 1 May 1991 - 31 October 1991

Technical Report · Sat Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1992

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5860700· OSTI ID:5860700

Catalano, A.; Arya, R. R.; Bennett, M.; Chen, L.; D'Aiello, R.; Fieselmann, B.; Li, Y.; Newton, J.; Podlesny, R.; Wiedeman, S.; Yang, L.

Improvements towards a goal of a 12.5% initial triple-junction module efficiency require the use of a wide gap top-layer for improved open circuit voltage, higher transmission from the transparent front contact and more highly transmitting doped layers. To address the first issue, there has been continued development of a-SiC:H with the utilization of several novel feedstocks to control the atomic structure of the solid. These films have transport properties superior to the best results reported for a-SiC:H. Preliminary results with devices exhibits a stability comparable to a-Si:H, while previous results with a-SiC:H have generally shown for higher rates of degradation. Module fabrication has been refined to the extent that comparable module and small area device efficiencies are readily obtained. Despite the high initial efficiencies (9%--10%) obtained in 935 cm{sup 2} modules employing devices with 4000{Angstrom} thick middle junctions, higher than expected rates of degradation were found. The cause of the anomalous degradation was traced to shunts present in the device arising from defects in the tin oxide coating. NREL degradation results of triple-junction modules showed stabilized performance of the initial efficiency for modules prepared during the period in which shunts were a problem. 20 refs.

• Research Organization: National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
• DOE Contract Number: AC36-08GO28308
• OSTI ID: 5860700
• Report Number(s): NREL/TP-451-4720; ON: DE92001213
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140501* -- Solar Energy Conversion-- Photovoltaic Conversion
360601 -- Other Materials-- Preparation & Manufacture
ALLOYS
AMORPHOUS STATE
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL COATING
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMICAL VAPOR DEPOSITION
DECOMPOSITION
DEPOSITION
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
DOCUMENT TYPES
EFFICIENCY
ELEMENTS
EQUIPMENT
FABRICATION
MATERIALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PERFORMANCE TESTING
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
PROGRESS REPORT
QUANTUM EFFICIENCY
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
SEMICONDUCTOR MATERIALS
SEMIMETALS
SILICON
SILICON ALLOYS
SILICON SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SURFACE COATING
TESTING
TIN COMPOUNDS
TIN OXIDES
ZINC COMPOUNDS
ZINC OXIDES
amorphous silicon
high efficiency
modules
photovoltaics
solar cells