Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-2xdlg Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-04T06:50:19.406Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Structural Defects in thin Film Amorphous Silicon Films Deposited on Textured TCO Material

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 February 2011

D. Knoesen
Affiliation:
Department of Atomic and Interface Physics, Debye Institute, Utrecht University, P.O. Box 80,000, 3508 TA Utrecht, The Netherlands
R. E. I. Schropp
Affiliation:
Department of Atomic and Interface Physics, Debye Institute, Utrecht University, P.O. Box 80,000, 3508 TA Utrecht, The Netherlands
W. F. Van Der Weg
Affiliation:
Department of Atomic and Interface Physics, Debye Institute, Utrecht University, P.O. Box 80,000, 3508 TA Utrecht, The Netherlands
Get access

Abstract

A cross sectional TME study has been conducted into the structure and morphology of p- and i-type a-Si:H layers of device quality deposited on textured TCO on glass. The layer thickness over peaks is shown to be equivalent to that for flat regions, while defective regions are found in narrow valleys, initiating from the pit of the valleys. These regions may act as regions of excessive recombination and/or shunting regions, thus leading to a reduced Voc and fill factor in thin solar cells. A cosine relationship was found between the deposited thickness and the facet angles of the surface TCO crystals. It is concluded that for best performance of the deposited layer, the deposition has to be completely isotropie, and that the preferred surface morphology of textured TCO be sharp peaks with wider valleys.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1995

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

1. Iida, H., Mishuku, T., Ito, A. and Hayashi, Y.. IEEE Trans on Electron Devices ED–34 271 (1987).Google Scholar
2. Sakai, H., Yoshida, T, Hama, T. and Ichikawa, Y.. Jap. J. of Appl. Phys 29 630 (1990).Google Scholar
3. Tsuge, S., Hishikawa, Y., Nakamura, N., Tsuda, S., Nakano, S., Kishi, Y. and Kuwano, . Proc Int'l PVSEC-5, Kyoto, Japan. 261 (1990).Google Scholar
4. Madan, A., Rava, P., Schropp, R. E. I. and von Roedern, B.. Appl. Surf. Sci. 70/71 716 (1993).Google Scholar
5. Tsai, C. C., Shaw, J. G., Wacker, B. and Knights, J. C.. MRS Proc. 95 219 (1987).Google Scholar