Monolithically interconnected Silicon-Film{trademark} module technology: Annual technical report, 25 November 1997--24 November 1998

Technical Report · Thu Nov 11 00:00:00 EST 1999

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/750918· OSTI ID:750918

Hall, R B; Ford, D H; Rand, J A; Ingram, A E

AstroPower continued its development of an advanced thin-silicon-based photovoltaic module product. This module combines the performance advantages of thin, light-trapped silicon layers with the capability of integration into a low-cost, monolithically interconnected array. This report summarizes the work carried out over the first year of a three-year, cost-shared contract, which has yielded the following results: Development of a low-cost, insulating, ceramic substrate that provides mechanical support at silicon growth temperatures, is matched to the thermal expansion of silicon, provides the optical properties required for light trapping through random texturing, and can be formed in large areas on a continuous basis. Different deposition techniques have been investigated, and AstroPower has developed deposition processes for the back conductive layer, the p-type silicon layer, and the mechanical/chemical barrier layer. Polycrystalline films of silicon have been grown on ceramics using AstroPower's Silicon-Film{trademark} process. These films are from 50 to 75 {micro}m thick, with columnar grains extending through the thickness of the film. Aspect ratios from 5:1 to 20:1 have been observed in these films.

• Research Organization: National Renewable Energy Lab., Golden, CO (US)
• Sponsoring Organization: US Department of Energy (US)
• DOE Contract Number: AC36-99GO10337
• OSTI ID: 750918
• Report Number(s): NREL/SR--520-26122
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
CERAMIC SUBSTRATE
CERAMICS
DEPOSITION
FABRICATION
LIGHT TRAPPING
MONOLITHIC INTERCONNECT DEVICE DESIGN
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
PERFORMANCE
PHOTOVOLTAICS
POLYCRYSTALLINE SILICON
SILICON
SILICON SOLAR CELLS
SILICON-FILM{TRADEMARK}
SUBSTRATES
THERMAL EXPANSION
THIN FILMS
THIN-FILMS