Research on Stable, High-Efficiency Amorphous Silicon Multijunction Modules, Annual Subcontract Report, 1 December 1991 - 31 October 1992
This report describes results from the first phase of a three-phase contract for the development of stable, high-efficiency, same-band-gap, amorphous silicon (a-Si) multijunction photovoltaic (PV) modules. The program involved improving the properties of individual layers of semiconductor and non-semiconductor materials and small-area single-junction and multijunction devices, as well as the multijunction modules. The semiconductor materials research was performed on a-Si p, i, and n layers, and on microcrystalline silicon n layers. These were deposited using plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition. The non-semiconductor materials studied were tin oxide, for use as a transparent-conducting-oxide (TCO), and zinc oxide, for use as a back reflector and as a buffer layer between the TCO and the semiconductor layers. Tin oxide was deposited using atmospheric-pressure chemical vapor deposition. Zinc oxide was deposited using magnetron sputtering. The research indicated that the major challenge in the fabrication of a-Si multijunction PV modules is the contact between the two p-i-n cells. A structure that has low optical absorption but that also facilitates the recombination of electrons from the first p-i-n structure with holes from the second p-i-n structure is required. Non-semiconductor layers and a-Si semiconductor layers were tested without achieving the desired result.
- Research Organization:
- National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC36-08GO28308
- OSTI ID:
- 6776153
- Report Number(s):
- NREL/TP-411-5327; ON: DE93000072
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
SILICON SOLAR CELLS
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
SOLAR CELL ARRAYS
AMORPHOUS STATE
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
LAYERS
N-TYPE CONDUCTORS
P-TYPE CONDUCTORS
PROGRESS REPORT
TIN OXIDES
ZINC OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
DOCUMENT TYPES
EQUIPMENT
MATERIALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
SEMICONDUCTOR MATERIALS
SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
TIN COMPOUNDS
ZINC COMPOUNDS
photovoltaics
solar cells
amorphous silicon
modules
high efficiency
multijunction
140501* - Solar Energy Conversion- Photovoltaic Conversion