Title: Optimum performance solar cells using atmospheric pressure chemical vapour deposition deposited TCOs

Authors: H.M. Yates, P. Evans, D.W. Sheel, Z. Remes, M. Vanecek, U. Dagkaldiran, A. Gordijn, F. Finger

Addresses: Institute of Materials Research, University of Salford, Salford, M5 4WT, UK. ' Institute of Materials Research, University of Salford, Salford, M5 4WT, UK. ' Institute of Materials Research, University of Salford, Salford, M5 4WT, UK; CVD Technologies Ltd., University of Salford Campus, Manchester, M5 4WT, UK. ' Institute of Physics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v.v.i. Cukrovarnicka 10, CZ-16253, Prague, Czech Republic. ' Institute of Physics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v.v.i. Cukrovarnicka 10, CZ-16253, Prague, Czech Republic. ' IEF5-Photovoltaik, Forschungszentrum Julich GmbH, 52425 Julich, Germany. ' IEF5-Photovoltaik, Forschungszentrum Julich GmbH, 52425 Julich, Germany. ' IEF5-Photovoltaik, Forschungszentrum Julich GmbH, 52425 Julich, Germany

Abstract: High performance transparent conducting oxides (TCOs), have significance for optimising PV performance. We have developed an advanced atmospheric pressure chemical vapour deposition process, by applying fast experimentation and using a combinatorial chemistry approach to aid the studies. The deposited films were characterised for crystallinity, morphology (roughness), haze and resistivity to aid optimisation of material suitable for solar cells. Optical measurements on these samples showed low absorption losses, less than 1% around 500 nm for one pass, which is much lower than those of industrially available TCOs. Selected samples were then used in manufacture of single junction a-Si : H solar cells, which showed high initial solar energy conversion efficiencies up to 9.3% and high short circuit current densities of 15 mA/cm². Compared with (commercially available) TCO CVD coated glasses, these TCO coatings show excellent performance resulting in a high quantum efficiency yield for a-Si : H solar cells.

Keywords: TCO coatings; APCVD; solar cells; F-doped SnO2; optical absorbance; transparent conducting oxides; photovoltaics; chemical vapour deposition; CVD; nanotechnology; tin oxide.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNT.2009.026742

International Journal of Nanotechnology, 2009 Vol.6 No.9, pp.816 - 827

Published online: 24 Jun 2009 *

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