Photovoltaic mechanisms in polycrystalline thin-film silicon solar cells. Final report, July 31, 1979-September 30, 1980

Technical Report · Mon Feb 16 04:00:00 EST 1981

OSTI ID:6853670

Temofonte, T A; Szedon, J R; Dickey, H C; Biter, W J; Fonash, S J; Ashok, S; Lester, P A

The overall goal of this program is to elucidate fundamental aspects of grain boundary influences on photocurrent collection and on opposing current mechanisms in polycrystalline silicon cells to allow achievement of at least 10% conversion efficiency at a cost of $0.30/peak watt or less (1975 $). Modeling efforts have resulted in Fourier and Bessel-Fourier series solutions for carrier transport in right cylindrical grains. Consistent differences were observed in the I-V behavior of Al-SiO/sub x/-pSi solar cells depending on the composition of HNO/sub 3/:HAc:HF used for chemical surface etching prior to barrier formation. Optimized grid designs were computer modeled for PN junctions, MIS and inversion layer solar cells, and results are discussed. Slices of polysilicon taken in sequence from the cast ingot which have very similar grain structure were identified. These correlated slices have been useful in studies of both chemical etch effects and plasma hydrogenation.

• Research Organization: Westinghouse Research and Development Center, Pittsburgh, PA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC01-79ET23106
• OSTI ID: 6853670
• Report Number(s): DOE/ET/23106-4
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140501* -- Solar Energy Conversion-- Photovoltaic Conversion
CHARGE CARRIERS
CHARGE TRANSPORT
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CLEANING
CRYSTAL DEFECTS
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE
CRYSTALS
DIFFUSION LENGTH
DIMENSIONS
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
EFFICIENCY
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
ELECTRODES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELEMENTS
EQUIPMENT
ETCHING
FABRICATION
FILMS
GRAIN BOUNDARIES
GRAIN ORIENTATION
HYDROGENATION
LASER RADIATION
LENGTH
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MICROSTRUCTURE
ORIENTATION
PERFORMANCE
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PHOTOELECTROMAGNETIC EFFECTS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC EFFECT
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
POLYCRYSTALS
RADIATIONS
SEMIMETALS
SILICON
SILICON SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SURFACE FINISHING