Carrier drift-mobilities and solar cell models for amorphous and nanocrystalline silicon

Research output: Chapter in Book/Entry/PoemConference contribution

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

Hole drift mobilities in hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) and nanocrystalline silicon (nc-Si:H) are in the range of 10-3 to 1 cm2/Vs at room-temperature. These low drift mobilities establish corresponding hole mobility limits to the power generation and useful thicknesses of the solar cells. The properties of as-deposited a-Si:H nip solar cells are quite close to their hole mobility limit, but the corresponding limit has not been examined for nc-Si:H solar cells. We explore the predictions for nc-Si:H solar cells based on parameters and values estimated from hole drift-mobility and related measurements. The indicate that the hole mobility limit for nc-Si:H cells corresponds to an optimum intrinsic-layer thickness of 2-3 μm, whereas the best nc-Si:H solar cells (10% conversion efficiency) have thicknesses around 2 μm.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationAmorphous and Polycrystalline Thin-Film Silicon Science and Technology - 2009
PublisherMaterials Research Society
Pages269-280
Number of pages12
ISBN (Print)9781605111261
DOIs
StatePublished - 2009
Event2009 MRS Spring Meeting - San Francisco, CA, United States
Duration: Apr 14 2009Apr 16 2009

Publication series

NameMaterials Research Society Symposium Proceedings
Volume1153
ISSN (Print)0272-9172

Other

Other2009 MRS Spring Meeting
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CitySan Francisco, CA
Period4/14/094/16/09

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Materials Science
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Mechanics of Materials
  • Mechanical Engineering

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