Real-Time Spectroscopic Ellipsometry as an In-Situ Diagnostic for Hot-Wire CVD Growth of Amorphous and Epitaxial Si

Dean Levi

Research output: Contribution to conferencePaper

Abstract

Real-time spectroscopic ellipsometry (RTSE) has proven to be an exceptionally valuable tool in the optimization of hot wire CVD (HWCVD) growth of both silicon heterojunction (SHJ) solar cells and thin epitaxial layers of crystal silicon (epi-Si). For SHJ solar cells, RTSE provides real-time thickness information and rapid feedback on the degree of crystallinity of the thin intrinsic layers usedto passivate the crystal silicon (c-Si) wafers. For epi-Si growth, RTSE provides real-time feedback on the crystallinity and breakdown of the epitaxial growth process. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) has been used to verify the RTSE analysis of thickness and crystallinity. In contrast to TEM, RTSE provides feedback in real time or same-day, while TEM normally requires weeks. This rapidfeedback has been a key factor in the rapid progress of both the SHJ and epi-Si projects.
Original languageAmerican English
Number of pages5
StatePublished - 2005
Event2004 DOE Solar Energy Technologies Program Review Meeting - Denver, Colorado
Duration: 25 Oct 200428 Oct 2004

Conference

Conference2004 DOE Solar Energy Technologies Program Review Meeting
CityDenver, Colorado
Period25/10/0428/10/04

Bibliographical note

Presented at the 2004 DOE Solar Energy Technologies Program Review Meeting, 25-28 October 2004, Denver, Colorado. Also included in the proceedings available on CD-ROM (DOE/GO-102005-2067; NREL/CD-520-37140)

NREL Publication Number

  • NREL/CP-520-37047

Keywords

  • crystal silicon (c-Si) wafers
  • nanocrystalline
  • PV
  • real-time spectroscopic ellipsometry (RTSE)
  • silicon heterojunction (SHJ)
  • solar cells
  • transmission electron microscopy (TEM)

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