Amorphous silicon research project government/industry program
This summary report covers that the second DOE/SERI three-year amorphous silicon initiative (1987--1989). Increased performance of amorphous silicon cells has resulted as a result of progress in the areas of light (photon) management and device structure. An improved utilization of the solar spectrum has resulted from developing textured transparent conducting oxide contacts and multilayer back reflectors, which have enhanced the light trapping in cells. For example, researchers developed a high-conductivity, textured SnO{sub 2}:F front contact deposited by atmospheric-pressure chemical vapor deposition on glass; the sheet resistance is low (8--10 {Omega}/square) and the optical transmittance is high (over 80% over the wavelength range 450--700 nm). Subsequently, researchers developed a textured ZnO front contact with an optical transmittance over a wider range than that of SnO{sub 2}:F. Reactors also developed highly reflective indium tin oxide (ITO)/aluminum and ZnO/Al or ZnO/Ag multilayer back reflectors that result in enhanced quantum efficiencies for a-SiGe:H(F) of up to 67% at 700 nm. Notable efficiencies were achieved for all-amorphous-silicon alloy, two-terminal, different-band-gap multijunction devices. Efficiencies for two-terminal, same-band-gap, multijunction 0.25-cm{sup 2} cells and 900-cm{sup 2} submodules were also improved, as were the efficiencies for four-terminal, 4-cm{sup 2} cells and 900-cm{sup 2} submodules.
- Research Organization:
- Solar Energy Research Inst., Golden, CO (USA)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- DOE/CE
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC02-83CH10093
- OSTI ID:
- 6194339
- Report Number(s):
- SERI/TP-211-3933; ON: DE90000376
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Research on Stable, High-Efficiency Amorphous Silicon Multijunction Modules, Semiannual Subcontract Report, 1 August 1989 - 31 January 1991
Research on Stable, High-Efficiency Amorphous Silicon Multijunction Modules: Final Subcontract Report, 1 January 1991 - 31 August 1994
Related Subjects
SILICON SOLAR CELLS
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
AMORPHOUS STATE
CHEMICAL VAPOR DEPOSITION
LIGHT TRANSMISSION
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
QUANTUM EFFICIENCY
REFLECTIVE COATINGS
SEMICONDUCTOR MATERIALS
SILICON OXIDES
SOLAR REFLECTORS
ZINC OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL COATING
COATINGS
DEPOSITION
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
EFFICIENCY
EQUIPMENT
MATERIALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
SILICON COMPOUNDS
SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR CONCENTRATORS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SURFACE COATING
ZINC COMPOUNDS
140501* - Solar Energy Conversion- Photovoltaic Conversion