Zn/sub 3/P/sub 2/ as an improved semiconductor for photovoltaic devices. Final report, July 17, 1976-September 1, 1978

Technical Report · Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1978

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6721848· OSTI ID:6721848

Catalano, A.; Dalal, V.; Devaney, W. E.; Fagen, E. A.; Hall, R. B.; Masi, J. V.; Warfield, G.; Wyeth, N. C.

The goal of this work was to evaluate the suitability of Zn/sub 3/P/sub 2/ as a potentially low cost, high conversion efficiency material for photovoltaic devices. The important results of the research are presented and discussed. The major accomplishments of this work are: (1) the development of a vapor transport method for the growth of large single crystals; (2) the development of two methods of thin film growth: vacuum evaporation and close space transport; (3) the determination of the optical constants of Zn/sub 3/P/sub 2/ including the indices of refraction, the optical absorption coefficient, and the ultra-violet to visible reflectivity spectra; (4) a determination of the factors which influence the electrical conductivity and how these relate to the defect chemistry of Zn/sub 3/P/sub 2/; (5) measurement of the barrier height of metal-Zn/sub 3/P/sub 2/ contacts and the development of a model which relates the barrier height to the properties of the metal-semiconductor interface; (6) measurement of the minority carrier diffusion length in Zn/sub 3/P/sub 2/; (7) the development of several single and double layer anti-reflection coatings; and (8) the development of Schottky barrier photovoltaic devices employing a grid device and transparent metal film design, with conversion efficiencies as high as 6.08% (total area) or 7.6% (active area).

• Research Organization: Delaware Univ., Newark (USA). Inst. of Energy Conversion
• DOE Contract Number: AC01-76ET20221
• OSTI ID: 6721848
• Report Number(s): DOE/ET/20221-T1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
ZINC PHOSPHIDE SOLAR CELLS
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
ZINC PHOSPHIDES
CRYSTAL GROWTH
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
ABSORPTIVITY
ANTIREFLECTION COATINGS
CRYSTAL DEFECTS
DEPOSITION
DIFFUSION LENGTH
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
ELECTRIC CONTACTS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FILMS
GRAIN SIZE
GRAPHS
MONOCRYSTALS
REFLECTIVITY
REFRACTION
VACUUM COATING
COATINGS
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE
CRYSTALS
DATA
DIMENSIONS
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
INFORMATION
LENGTH
MICROSTRUCTURE
NUMERICAL DATA
PHOSPHIDES
PHOSPHORUS COMPOUNDS
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PNICTIDES
SIZE
SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SURFACE COATING
SURFACE PROPERTIES
ZINC COMPOUNDS
140501* - Solar Energy Conversion- Photovoltaic Conversion
360601 - Other Materials- Preparation & Manufacture