Development of micromorph tandem solar cells on flexible low-cost plastic substrates

Haug, F.-J.; Söderström, T.; Python, M.; Terrazzoni-Daudrix, V.; Niquille, X.; Ballif, Christophe

doi:10.1016/j.solmat.2008.10.018

Cited by 94 publications

(54 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…The n-i-p cells presented here are grown on a flexible polyethylene substrate and the surface morphology of the substrate is textured with a periodic sinusoidal structure which is embossed into the surface by a roll-to-roll process [33]. The substrate is then covered in a conformal way by sputtering of a bilayer of silver and zinc oxide with typical thicknesses of 80 nm and 60 nm, respectively.…”

Section: Advanced Light Trapping In N-i-p Thin Film Silicon Solar Cellsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…First, the periodic substrate in the n-i-p configuration exhibits a period of 1200 nm which is well matched to the requirements of the microcrystalline silicon bottom cells, but not necessarily to amorphous silicon cells. Still, in 270 nm thick single junction amorphous cells deposited directly on this substrate, photocurrents between 12.8 mA/cm 2 and 14.4 mA/cm 2 [33] could be achieved, with a certainly higher reflection at the ZnO/Ag back contact used as back reflector than the reflection which can be attained with the SOIR in the tandem cell. Moreover, the texture of the back contact is changed by the growth of the microcrystalline bottom cell, as shown in Figure 14 by a cross section image of a tandem cell on the periodic reflector incorporating an intermediate reflector.…”

Section: Advanced Light Trapping In N-i-p Thin Film Silicon Solar Cellsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Research and developments in thin-film silicon photovoltaics

et al. 2009

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The increasing demand for photovoltaic devices and the associated crystalline silicon feedstock demand scenario have led in the past years to the fast growth of the thin film silicon industry. The high potential for cost reduction and the suitability for building integration have initiated both industrial and research laboratories dynamisms for amorphous silicon and micro-crystalline silicon based photovoltaic technologies. The recent progress towards higher efficiencies thin film silicon solar cells obtained at the IMT-EPFL in Neuchatel in small-area laboratory and semi-large-area industrial Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition (PE-CVD) systems are reviewed. Advanced light trapping schemes are fundamental to reach high conversion efficiency and the potential of advanced Transparent Conductive Oxides (TCO) is presented, together with issues associated to the impact of the substrate morphology onto the growth of the silicon films. The recent improvements realized in amorphous-microcrystalline tandem solar cells on glass substrate are then presented, and the latest results on 1 cm 2 cells are reported with up to 13.3 % initial efficiency for small-area reactors and up to 12.3 % initial for large-area industrial reactors. Finally, the different strategies to reach an improved light confinement in a thin film solar cell deposited on a flexible substrate are discussed, with the incorporation of asymmetric intermediate reflectors. Results of micromorph solar cells in the n-i-p configuration with up to 9.8 % stabilized efficiency are reported.

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Section: Advanced Light Trapping In N-i-p Thin Film Silicon Solar Cellsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Advanced Light Trapping In N-i-p Thin Film Silicon Solar Cellsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Research and developments in thin-film silicon photovoltaics

et al. 2009

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“…The second approach is the use of low-cost polyethylene-naphtalate or polyethylene-teraphtalate substrates that require process temperatures not exceeding 150°C [5][6][7]. In this case, the device performance is lower because of deteriorating electronic properties of a-Si:H. To date, the highest stable efficiency of 8.7% was reported for single junction a-Si:H cells on a textured plastic substrate [8].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lightweight amorphous silicon photovoltaic modules on flexible plastic substrate

Vygranenko¹,

KhosropourA.

YangR

et al. 2014

Can. J. Phys.

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Solar cells on lightweight and flexible substrates have advantages over glass-or wafer-based photovoltaic devices in both terrestrial and space applications. Here, we report on development of amorphous silicon thin film photovoltaic modules fabricated at maximum deposition temperature of 150°C on 100 m thick polyethylene-naphtalate plastic films. Each module of 10 cm × 10 cm area consists of 72 a-Si:H n-i-p rectangular structures with transparent conducting oxide top electrodes with Al fingers and metal back electrodes deposited through the shadow masks. Individual structures are connected in series forming eight rows with connection ports provided for external blocking diodes. The design optimization and device performance analysis are performed using a developed SPICE model.

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“…3 Alas, it took more than a decade before suitable periodic structures for solar cell fabrication were demonstrated, 4,5 and still some time elapsed before acceptable device efficiencies were demonstrated for thin film silicon solar cells with periodic interface textures. [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13] From a modelling point of view, periodic structures pose fewer difficulties than random ones; consequently, many reports on rigorous calculations appeared. [14][15][16][17][18][19] While increasing computing power made the modelling faster and more accurate over the years, the understanding of the actual mechanisms of light trapping is still limited.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Diffraction and absorption enhancement from textured back reflectors of thin film solar cells

Haug

Naqavi

Ballif

2012

Journal of Applied Physics

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Exploiting piezoelectric charge for high performance graded InGaN nanowire solar cells Appl. Phys. Lett. 101, 143905 (2012) Design principles for plasmonic thin film GaAs solar cells with high absorption enhancement J. Appl. Phys. 112, 054326 (2012) Optical absorptions in AlxGa1−xAs/GaAs quantum well for solar energy application J. Appl. Phys. 112, 054314 (2012) Analyzing nanotextured transparent conductive oxides for efficient light trapping in silicon thin film solar cells Appl. Phys. Lett. 101, 103903 (2012) Additional information on J. Appl. Phys. We study light scattering and absorption in thin film solar cells, using a model system of a sinusoidally textured silver reflector and dielectric layers of ZnO and amorphous silicon. Experimental results are compared to a theoretical model based on a Rayleigh expansion. Taking into account the explicit interface profile, the expansion converges fast and can be truncated typically after three or four orders. At the same time, the use of realistic permittivity data correctly reproduces the intensity of diffracted orders as well as the coupling to guided modes and surface plasmon polariton resonances at the silver surface. The coupling phenomena behind the light trapping process can therefore be assessed in a simple, yet accurate manner. V C 2012 American Institute of Physics. [http://dx

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Development of micromorph tandem solar cells on flexible low-cost plastic substrates

Cited by 94 publications

References 10 publications

Research and developments in thin-film silicon photovoltaics

Research and developments in thin-film silicon photovoltaics

Lightweight amorphous silicon photovoltaic modules on flexible plastic substrate

Diffraction and absorption enhancement from textured back reflectors of thin film solar cells

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