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Influence of Front Contact Material on Silicon Heterojunction Solar Cell Performance

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 February 2011

R. Rizzolp ,
R Galloni ,
C. Summonte ,
R. Pinghin ,
E. Centurioni ,
F. Zignan ,
A. Desalvo ,
P. Rava  and
A. Madan
R. Rizzolp
Affiliation:
CNR-Lamel, Bologna, Italy
R Galloni
Affiliation:
CNR-Lamel, Bologna, Italy
C. Summonte
Affiliation:
CNR-Lamel, Bologna, Italy
R. Pinghin
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Chimica Applicata e Scienza dei Materiali, Bologna University, v. Risorgimento 2, Bologna, Italy
E. Centurioni
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Chimica Applicata e Scienza dei Materiali, Bologna University, v. Risorgimento 2, Bologna, Italy
F. Zignan
Affiliation:
CNR-Lamel, Bologna, Italy
A. Desalvo
Affiliation:
CNR-Lamel, Bologna, Italy
P. Rava
Affiliation:
Elettrorava SpA, via Don Sapino 176, 10040 Savonera, (Torino), Italy
A. Madan
Affiliation:
MVSystems, Ine, 17301 W. Colfax Ave, Suite 305, Golden, CO80401
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Abstract

The emitter of amorphous/crystalline silicon heterojunction (HJ) solar cells is normally very thin. Consequently, the metal used as a front contact can produce a partial or even total depletion of this layer. As a result, the diffusion potential of the p-n junction deviates from its maximum value. In this paper, we report the results concerning HJ in which either metal dots (Au, Al), semitransparent metal layers, or indium tin oxide (ITO) dots or layers were used as front contact on the same HJ structure, namely (p)a-Si:H / (i)a-Si:H / (n)c-Si / Al. We show that, for thin p-layers, the dark and light J-V characteristics of HJ solar cells depend on the material used as front contact. In particular, we found that the dark saturation current increases if a low work function material is used. This increase is interpreted in terms of p-layer depletion, and is shown to directly influence the J-V characteristics under illumination, producing a reduction of the open circuit voltage of solar cells.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 467: Symposium A – Amorphous and Microcrystalline Silicon Technology - 1997 , 1997 , 807
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1997

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References

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