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Optimization of band gap, thickness and carrier concentrations for the development of efficient microcrystalline silicon solar cells: A theoretical approach
- Source :
- Solar Energy. 97:176-185
- Publication Year :
- 2013
- Publisher :
- Elsevier BV, 2013.
-
Abstract
- Hydrogenated microcrystalline silicon (μc-Si:H) has superior properties than hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) but its photo conversion efficiency is lower than a-Si:H. This may be due to lack of understanding of basic structural parameters of μc-Si:H solar cells. Optimization of basic structural parameters such as band gap, thickness of p-, i- and n-layers, acceptor concentration ( N a ) and donor concentration ( N d ) can help improving efficiency of μc-Si:H solar cells. We report the optimization of these structural parameters using AFORS-HET simulation software and the optimized values of band gap of p-, i- and n-layers are found to be 1.5 eV, 1.4 eV and 1.5 eV and their thicknesses are found to be 5 nm, 2000 nm and 20 nm, respectively. The optimization of values of N a and N d are also performed and highest efficiency of ∼17% is realized at N a and N d of 10 20 cm −3 . This study will be useful to solve the issues associated with existing μc-Si:H solar cell technology and may help fabricating high efficiency μc-Si:H solar cells.
- Subjects :
- Amorphous silicon
Materials science
Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
Band gap
business.industry
Acceptor
Polymer solar cell
law.invention
chemistry.chemical_compound
chemistry
Microcrystalline silicon
law
Solar cell
Optoelectronics
General Materials Science
Photo conversion
business
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 0038092X
- Volume :
- 97
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Solar Energy
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi...........a8cb27a3acd07e40ffdd30088d7ed185