Identifying Electronic Properties Relevant to Improving the Performance and Stability of Amorphous Silicon Based Mid-Gap and Low-Gap Cells: Final Subcontract Report, 16 January 1998-15 October 2001

    Research output: NRELSubcontract Report

    Abstract

    This report describes our experimental studies which have been concentrated in roughly five areas. Specifically: (1) We have examined a-Si:H grown very close to the microcrystalline phase boundary, so-called 'edge material,' to help understand why such material is more stable with respect to light-induced degradation; (2) We have also studied the electronic properties, and degradationcharacteristics of mixed phase material that is mostly a-Si:H, but which contains a significant microcrystalline component; (3) We have examined the electronic properties of high deposition rate material. These studies have included both moderately high deposition rate material (up to 6 ..ANG../s) produced by the PECVD growth method, and extremely high deposition rate material (up to 130 ..ANG../s) produced by the HWCVD growth method. (4) We have examined series of a-Si,Ge:H alloys from several sources. In one extensive series of studies we examined low Ge fraction alloys in an attempt to learn more about the fundamentals of degradation in general. In a couple other studies we evaluated the properties of a-Si,Ge:H alloys produced by methods we had not previously examined. (5) Finally,for three different types of samples we compared basic material properties with companion cell performance data. This was carried out in each case on series of samples for which one or more specific deposition parameters were varied systematically.
    Original languageAmerican English
    Number of pages88
    StatePublished - 2002

    Bibliographical note

    Work performed by the University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon

    NREL Publication Number

    • NREL/SR-520-32535

    Keywords

    • a-si:h
    • defect density
    • high hydrogen dilution
    • hot-wire CVD films
    • isothermal anneal
    • light-induced photocurrent
    • light-soaking time
    • microcrystallites
    • photocapacitance
    • PV
    • reactive magnetron sputtering
    • x-ray diffraction (XRD)

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