Reduction of the phosphorus contamination for plasma deposition of p-i-n microcrystalline silicon solar cells in a single chamber

This paper investigates several pretreatment techniques used to reduce the phosphorus contamination between solar cells. They include hydrogen plasma pretreatment, deposition of a p-type doped layer, i-a-Si:H or μc-Si:H covering layer between solar cells. Their effectiveness for the pretreatment is evaluated by means of phosphorus concentration in films, the dark conductivity of p-layer properties and cell performance.     

单室沉积高效非晶硅/微晶硅叠层太阳电池的研究

采用甚高频等离子体增强化学气相沉积技术,在前期单室沉积的微晶硅薄膜太阳电池和非晶硅/微晶硅叠层太阳电池研究的基础上,通过对微晶硅底电池本征层硅烷浓度的优化,获得了初始效率达到11.02%(电池面积1.0 cm²)的非晶硅/微晶硅叠层太阳电池.同时,100 cm²的非晶硅/微晶硅叠层太阳电池的组件效率也达到了9.04%. 关键词： 非晶硅/微晶硅叠层电池 单室 甚高频     

Micromorph tandem solar cells: optimization of the microcrystalline silicon bottom cell in a single chamber system

We report on the development of single chamber deposition of microcrystalline and micromorph tandem solar cells directly onto low-cost glass substrates. The cells have pin single-junction or pin/pin double-junction structures on glass substrates coated with a transparent conductive oxide layer such as SnO₂ or ZnO. By controlling boron and phosphorus contaminations, a single-junction microcrystalline silicon cell with a conversion efficiency of 7.47% is achieved with an i-layer thickness of 1.2 μm. In tandem devices, by thickness optimization of the microcrystalline silicon bottom solar cell, we obtained an initial conversion efficiency of 9.91% with an aluminum (Al) back reflector without a dielectric layer. In order to enhance the performance of the tandem solar cells, an improved light trapping structure with a ZnO/Al back reflector is used. As a result, a tandem solar cell with 11.04% of initial conversion efficiency has been obtained.     

单室沉积p-i-n型微晶硅薄膜太阳电池性能优化的研究

采用原位的氢等离子体处理技术和微晶覆盖技术来降低单室沉积p-i-n型微晶硅薄膜太阳电池中的硼污染问题.通过对不同处理技术所制备电池的电流密度-电压和量子效率测试结果的比较发现,一定的氢处理时间和合适的覆盖层技术都可以在一定程度上提高电池的性能,但每种方法的影响程度各异、文中对此异同进行了分析.通过对电池陷光结构和氢等离子体处理时间的优化,在单室中获得了效率为6.39%的单结微晶硅太阳电池.     

低速p/i界面缓冲层对高速沉积微晶硅太阳电池性能的影响

在采用高压高功率的甚高频等离子体增强化学气相沉积(VHF-PECVD)技术高速沉积微晶硅(μc-Si：H)太阳电池过程中,产生的高能离子对薄膜表面的轰击作用会降低薄膜质量和破坏p型掺杂层(p层)与本征层(i层)之间的界面特性.针对该问题提出在电池中引入低速沉积的p/i界面层的方法,即在p层上先低速沉积一薄层本征μc-Si：H薄膜,然后再高速沉积本征μc-Si：H薄膜.实验结果表明,引入低速方法沉积的界面层有效地提高了p/i界面特性和i层微结构的纵向均匀性,而随界面层厚度的增加,i层中的缺陷态先降低后增加, 关键词： μc-Si：H太阳电池 甚高频等离子体增强化学气相沉积 p/i界面层     

p种子层对单室制备微晶硅电池性能的影响

采用单室等离子体化学气相沉积技术沉积pin微晶硅电池时,硼污染降低了本征材料的晶化率并影响了p/i界面特性.针对该问题文中采用p种子层技术,即在沉积p层后采取高的H₂/SiH₄比率及适当的功率又沉积一个薄的p层,初步研究了p种子层对微晶硅i层纵向均匀性及电池性能的影响.实验结果表明：采用此方法能改善p/i界面特性,提高本征材料纵向结构的均匀性并降低硼对本征层的污染,有效地提高单结微晶硅电池的性能.最后,通过优化沉积条件,制备得到光电转换效率为881%（1 cm 关键词： 单室 甚高频等离子体增强化学气相沉积 微晶硅太阳电池 p种子层     

硼对沉积本征微晶硅薄膜特性的影响

采用甚高频等离子体增强化学气相沉积(VHF-PECVD)技术制备了不同腔室环境下的微晶硅薄膜.对单室沉积掺杂层p材料后遗留在腔室中的硼对本征微晶i材料电学特性和结构特性的影响进行了详细研究.测试结果表明：单室沉积p层后的硼降低了微晶i层材料的暗电导,增加了材料的光敏性;由于硼对i层污染程度的不同,使得材料的激活能发生了变化;腔室中残余的硼也导致微晶硅薄膜的结晶状况恶化,同时弱化了材料的(220)择优取向.而在较高功率和较强氢稀释下制备的晶化率较高,(220)晶向明显择优的材料受硼污染影响相对减小. 关键词： 单室 甚高频等离子体增强化学气相沉积 微晶硅 硼     

n型掺杂层结构对n-i-p型微晶硅电池性能和光致衰退特性的影响

采用射频化学气相沉积法,制备了一系列具有不同晶化率n型掺杂层的n-i-p结构微晶硅薄膜太阳电池.发现本征层的结构很大程度上依赖于n型掺杂层的结构,特别是n/i界面处的孵化层厚度以及本征层的晶化率.该系列太阳电池在100 mW/cm²的白光下照射400 h,实验结果证实了本征层晶化率最大（X_c(i)=65%）的电池性能表现出最低的光致衰退率.拥有非晶/微晶过渡区n型掺杂层的电池（本征层晶化率X_c(i)=54%）分别 关键词： 微晶硅 n-i-p结构太阳电池 光致衰退 晶化率     

超薄高速率单结微晶硅薄膜电池及其叠层电池

采用甚高频等离子体增强化学气相沉积技术, 基于优化表面形貌及光电特性的溅射后腐蚀ZnO:Al衬底, 将通过调控工艺参数获得的器件质量级高速微晶硅(μupc-Si:H )材料(沉积速率达10.57 Å/s)应用到微晶硅单结电池中, 获得了初始效率达7.49%的高速率超薄微晶硅单结太阳电池(本征层厚度为1.1 μm). 并提出插入n型微晶硅和p型微晶硅的隧穿复合结, 实现了非晶硅顶电池和微晶硅底电池之间的低损电连接, 由此获得了初始效率高达12.03% (V_oc=1.48 eV, J_sc=11.67 mA/cm², FF=69.59%)的非晶硅/微晶硅超薄双结叠层电池(总厚度为1.48 μm), 为实现低成本生产太阳电池奠定了基础.     

甚高频等离子体增强化学气相沉积制备微晶硅太阳电池的研究

采用甚高频等离子体增强化学气相沉积技术成功地制备了不同硅烷浓度和辉光功率条件下的微晶硅电池.电池的J-V测试结果表明：在实验的硅烷浓度和功率范围内，随硅烷浓度的降低和功率的加大，对应电池的开路电压逐渐变小；硅烷浓度的不同对电池的短路电流密 度有很大的影响，但功率的影响在实验研究的范围内不是很显著.对于微晶硅电池，N层最好 是非晶硅，这是因为一方面可以降低对电流的横向收集效应，另一方面也降低了电池的漏电概率，提高了电池的填充因子. 关键词： 微晶硅太阳电池 甚高频等离子体增强化学气相沉积     

n型窗口层材料及其在高速沉积微晶硅太阳电池中的应用研究

采用常规的射频等离子体增强化学气相沉积技术制备了可以用于微晶硅薄膜太阳电池的n型的掺杂窗口层材料.通过掺杂窗口层材料在电池中的应用发现：微晶硅薄膜太阳电池由于其电子和空穴的迁移率相差比较小而显示出磷掺杂的n型的微晶硅材料也可以像硼掺杂的p型的微晶硅材料一样,可作为微晶硅薄膜太阳电池的窗口层材料;两种窗口层制备电池的效率差别不大,而且量子效率（QE）测试结果显示两种电池的n/i和p/i界面没有明显的区别;电池的双面不同波长拉曼光谱的测试结果给出：不论是n/i/p还是p/i/n型的电池,在起始生长本征层阶段均 关键词： n型的掺杂窗口层 p型的掺杂窗口层 微晶硅薄膜太阳电池     

提高微晶硅薄膜太阳电池效率的研究

采用甚高频等离子体增强化学气相沉积技术制备了系列微晶硅薄膜太阳电池，指出了气体总流量和背反射电极的类型对电池性能参数的影响.电池的I-V测试结果表明：随反应气体总流量的增加，对应电池的短路电流密度、开路电压和填充因子都有很大程度的提高，结果使得电池的光电转换效率得以提高.另外，ZnO/Ag/Al背反射电极能明显提高电池的短路电流密度，进而也提高了电池的光电转换效率.对气体总流量和背反射电极类型影响电池效率的原因进行了分析. 关键词： 微晶硅薄膜太阳电池 气体流量 ZnO/Ag/Al背反射电极     

Influence of the total gas flow rate on high rate growth microcrystalline silicon films and solar cells

This paper reports that high-rate-deposition of microcrystalline silicon solar cells was performed by very-high-frequency plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition. These solar cells, whose intrinsic μ c-Si:H layers were prepared by using a different total gas flow rate (F_total), behave much differently in performance, although their intrinsic layers have similar crystalline volume fraction, opto-electronic properties and a deposition rate of ～ 1.0~nm/s. The influence of F_total on the micro-structural properties was analyzed by Raman and Fourier transformed infrared measurements. The results showed that the vertical uniformity and the compact degree of μ c-Si:H thin films were improved with increasing F_total. The variation of the microstructure was regarded as the main reason for the difference of the J--V parameters. Combined with optical emission spectroscopy, we found that the gas temperature plays an important role in determining the microstructure of thin films. With F_total of 300~sccm, a conversion efficiency of 8.11% has been obtained for the intrinsic layer deposited at 8.5~\AA/s (1~\AA=0.1\,nm).     

High critical oxygen concentration in microcrystalline silicon solar cells

For microcrystalline silicon based p–i–n solar cells the effect of deposition conditions on the critical oxygen concentration was investigated. All solar cells were prepared by 13.56 MHz plasma‐enhanced chemical vapour deposition. The critical oxygen concentration defines the lowest oxygen concentration in the intrinsic absorber layer causing a deterioration of the solar cell performance. For intentional contamination of ～1.2–1.3 µm thick i‐layers, the oxygen was inserted by a controllable leak at the process gases supply line, i.e. by a gas pipe leak. For µc‐Si:H deposited at a discharge power of 0.53 W/cm² we find a critical oxygen concentration of 1–2 × 10¹⁹ cm^–3 in agreement with values commonly reported in literature. However, changing the deposition conditions, we find that the critical oxygen concentration in µc‐Si:H cells is not fixed. At reduced power of 0.20 W/cm² a much higher value for the critical oxygen concentration of 1 × 10²⁰ cm^–3 is observed. (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Silicon nitride/silicon oxide interlayers for solar cell passivating contacts based on PECVD amorphous silicon

This Letter demonstrates improved passivating contacts for silicon solar cells consisting of doped silicon films together with tunnelling dielectric layers. An improvement is demonstrated by replacing the commonly used silicon oxide interfacial layer with a silicon nitride/silicon oxide double interfacial layer. The paper describes the optimization of such contacts, including doping of a PECVD intrinsic a‐Si:H film by means of a thermal POCl₃ diffusion process and an exploration of the effect of the refractive index of the SiN_x. The n⁺ silicon passivating contact with SiN_x /SiO_x double layer achieves a better result than a single SiN_x or SiO_x layer, giving a recombination current parameter of ～7 fA/cm² and a contact resistivity of ～0.005 Ω cm², respectively. These self‐passivating electron‐selective contacts open the way to high efficiency silicon solar cells. (© 2015 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH &Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

前端接触势垒高度对非晶硅和微晶硅异质结太阳电池的影响

运用AMPS-1D（Analysis of Microelectronic and Photonic Structures） 程序系统分析了前端接触（铟锡氧化物）的势垒分别对非晶硅和微晶硅太阳电池性能的影响,比较了两种影响的差异并分析了具体原因. 研究表明：与微晶硅相比,非晶硅受铟锡氧化物功函数Φ_ITO的影响更加显著. 随着Φ_ITO的增加非晶硅的各项物理性能（如太阳电池效率、填充因子等）得到明显改善,而微晶硅的各项参数虽然也随Φ_ITO增加而改变,但更容易趋于饱和. 模拟结果显示,在实际的太阳电池装备过程中可根据前端电极的性能来选择合适的p型硅材料. 关键词： 铟锡氧化物 非晶硅 微晶硅 计算机模拟     

微晶硅锗太阳电池本征层纵向结构的优化

采用射频等离子体增强化学气相沉积技术, 研究了辉光功率对微晶硅锗材料结构特性和光电特性的影响, 提出使用功率梯度的方法制备微晶硅锗薄膜太阳电池本征层. 优化后的微晶硅锗本征层不仅保持了晶化率纵向分布的均匀性, 而且形成了沿生长方向由宽到窄的渐变带隙分布, 使电池的填充因子和短路电流密度都得到了提高. 采用此方法制备的非晶硅/微晶硅锗双结叠层电池转换效率达到了9.54%.     

The effect of initial discharge conditions on the properties of microcrystalline silicon thin films and solar cells

This paper studies the effects of silane back diffusion in the initial plasma ignition stage on the properties of microcrystalline silicon ($\mu $c-Si:H) films by Raman spectroscopy and spectroscopic ellipsometry, through delaying the injection of SiH7280N, 7830G, 8115Hhttp://cpb.iphy.ac.cn/CN/10.1088/1674-1056/19/5/057205https://cpb.iphy.ac.cn/CN/article/downloadArticleFile.do?attachType=PDF&id=111771back diffusion, microcrystalline silicon, thin film, Raman crystallinityProject supported by the State Key Development Program for Basic Research of China (Grant No.~2006CB202601).This paper studies the effects of silane back diffusion in the initial plasma ignition stage on the properties of microcrystalline silicon ($\mu $c-Si:H) films by Raman spectroscopy and spectroscopic ellipsometry, through delaying the injection of SiH$_{4}$ gas to the reactor before plasma ignition. By comparing with standard discharge condition, delayed SiH$_{4}$ gas condition could prevent the back diffusion of SiH$_{4}$ from the reactor to the deposition region effectively, which induced the formation of a thick amorphous incubation layer in the interface between bulk film and glass substrate. Applying this method, it obtains the improvement of spectral response in the middle and long wavelength region by combining this method with solar cell fabrication. Finally, results are explained by modifying zero-order analytical model, and a good agreement is found between model and experiments concerning the optimum delayed injection time.back;diffusion;microcrystalline;silicon;thin;film;Raman;crystallinityThis paper studies the effects of silane back diffusion in the initial plasma ignition stage on the properties of microcrystalline silicon(μc-Si:H) films by Raman spectroscopy and spectroscopic ellipsometry,through delaying the injection of SiH4 gas to the reactor before plasma ignition.Compared with standard discharge condition,delayed SiH4 gas condition could prevent the back diffusion of SiH4 from the reactor to the deposition region effectively,which induced the formation of a thick amorphous incubation layer in the interface between bulk film and glass substrate.Applying this method,it obtains the improvement of spectral response in the middle and long wavelength region by combining this method with solar cell fabrication.Finally,results are explained by modifying zero-order analytical model,and a good agreement is found between the model and experiments concerning the optimum delayed injection time.     

Light‐induced degradation of PECVD aluminium oxide passivated silicon solar cells

Light‐induced degradation (LID) has been identified to be a critical issue for solar cells processed on boron‐doped silicon substrates. Typically, Czochralski‐grown silicon (Cz‐Si) has been reported to suffer from stronger LID than block‐cast multicrystalline silicon (mc‐Si) due to higher oxygen concentrations. This work investigates LID under conditions practically relevant under module operation on different cell types. It is shown that aluminium oxide (AlOx) passivated mc‐Si solar cells degrade more than a reference aluminium back surface field mc‐Si cell and, remarkably, an AlOx passivated Cz‐Si solar cell. The defect which is activated by illumination is shown to be doubtful a sole bulk effect while the AlOx passivation might play a certain role. This work may contribute to a re‐evaluation of the suitability of boron‐doped Cz‐ and mc‐Si for solar cells with very high efficiencies. (© 2015 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH &Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Effect of iron contamination on grain boundary states at a direct silicon bonded (110)/(100) interface

The effect of iron contamination on the electrical property of a (110)/(100) interfacial grain boundary (GB) in a p‐type direct‐silicon‐bonded wafer has been investigated by current–voltage and capacitance–voltage characteristics. It is found that iron contamination can change the charge property of this “model” GB. Based on proper physical modeling, it is found that compared to a “clean” grain boundary, iron contamination can significantly increase the density of GB states, and the corresponding GB neutral level has also been modified. These results show us a clear physical picture of Fe contamination influencing the GB states. (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)