Realizing a facile and environmental-friendly fabrication of high-performance multi-crystalline silicon solar cells by employing ZnO nanostructures and an Al2O3 passivation layer

Abstract

Nowadays, the multi-crystalline silicon (mc-Si) solar cells dominate the photovoltaic industry. However, the current acid etching method on mc-Si surface used by firms can hardly suppress the average reflectance value below 25% in the visible light spectrum. Meanwhile, the nitric acid and the hydrofluoric contained in the etching solution is both environmental unfriendly and highly toxic to human. Here, a mc-Si solar cell based on ZnO nanostructures and an Al2O3 spacer layer is demonstrated. The eco-friendly fabrication is realized by low temperature atomic layer deposition of Al2O3 layer as well as ZnO seed layer. Moreover, the ZnO nanostructures are prepared by nontoxic and low cost hydro-thermal growth process. Results show that the best passivation quality of the n+ -type mc-Si surface can be achieved by balancing the Si dangling bond saturation level and the negative charge concentration in the Al2O3 film. Moreover, the average reflectance on cell surface can be suppressed to 8.2% in 400–900 nm range by controlling the thickness of ZnO seed layer. With these two combined refinements, a maximum solar cell efficiency of 15.8% is obtained eventually. This work offer a facile way to realize the environmental friendly fabrication of high performance mc-Si solar cells.

Low-Temperature One-Step Growth of AlON Thin Films with Homogenous Nitrogen-Doping Profile by Plasma-Enhanced Atomic Layer Deposition

“…These values agree well with the former works. 24,36 The refractive index of the AlON films monotonically increases with increasing the NH 3 :O 2 ratio. Results show that the NH 3 :O 2 ratio should be maintained at a very high concentration (>90:10) for maintaining the n value of the AlON film in the range of antireflection application.…”

Micro Nano Manufacturing Methods for Chemical, Gas and Bio Sensors, Water Purification and Energy Technologies

“…The fabrication of energy device material such as thin film photoelectrode for splitting water into H 2 and O 2 during photoelectrochemical process and the development of photovoltaic cells, for solar energy conversion is tasking and difficult, requiring a special operational technique. For efficient solar energy capturing and conversion in photovoltaic cells, effective separation electrons and holes in photoelectrode required [41,42]. This depend on the deposited semiconducting material ultrathin layer, evenly coated and tightly connected to conductive layer.…”

Applications of ZnO Nanorods and Nanowires - A Review

“…A similar solution was under further investigation. In 2016, a multi-crystalline solar cell with two functional layers -ZnO nanostructures and an Al 2 O 3 spacer layer was demonstrated [83]. Results show that the ZnO nanostructures synthesized from the seed layer with optimized thickness exhibit excellent photon harvesting ability in the visible light range, leading to an increase in short circuit current of the PV cells.…”