Flexible tandem solar cells based on amorphous and nanocrystalline silicon

Funder

Organizational Unit

Publications

Preparation and characterization of a-SiC:H absorber layer for semi-transparent solar cells

Publication . Vygranenko, Yuri; Fernandes, Miguel; Louro, Paula; Vieira, Manuela; Sazonov, Andrei

This paper reports on device-quality silicon-carbon alloy (a-SiC:H) application as an absorber material in semi-transparent solar cells. Films with an optical bandgap ranging from 2 to 2.3 eV were prepared by plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition (PECVD). The n-i-p structures with undoped SiC:H layers deposited under the same experimental conditions were also fabricated and characterized. The optimized devices showed forward current-voltage characteristics with a diode ideality factor in the range from 1.4 to 1.8, and an open circuit voltage up to 0.92 V. The density of deep defect states in a SiC:H was estimated from the transient current measurements and correlated with the optical bandgap.

2015-12-29Conference object

Open access

Characterization of a-Si:H solar cell modules on plastic substrates by high resolution LBIC technique

Publication . Fernandes, Miguel; Vygranenko, Yuri; Vieira, Manuela; Sazonov, Andrei; Yang, R.; Khosropour, A.

This article reports on characterization of hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) photovoltaic modules fabricated on 100 mu m thick PEN plastic films. Experimental results show that the shunt leakage is one of the factors reducing the device performance. Current-voltage characteristics of individual a-Si:H p-i-n cells were analysed to estimate a variation of shunt resistances. A SPICE model of the a-Si:H p-i-n cell with local shunt leakage was also developed to analyse the impact of leakage currents on the device performance. Using the LBIC technique, the presence of multiple shunts in the cell was detected. They are attributed to surface defects in plastic foils, which are thermally induced during the device fabrication. (C) 2015 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

2015-12-29Conference object

Open access