Publications

Skip Navigation Links.
Recently Published
Collapse per documenttypeper documenttype
Expand per Unitper Unit
Expand per Clusterper Cluster

Search for publications:


Limit search to the fields

ECN publication
Title:
Rapidly deposited hote-wire cvd silicon nitride as high-quality passivating anti-reflection coating on (multi-)crystaline si solar cells
 
Author(s):
Verlaan, V.; Werf, C.H.M. van der; Houweling, Z.S.; Mai, Y; Bakker, R.; Romijn, I.G.; Weeber, A.W.; Goldbach, H.D.; Schropp, R.E.I.
 
Published by: Publication date:
ECN Solar Energy 21-6-2007
 
ECN report number: Document type:
ECN-M--07-060 Conference Paper
 
Number of pages: Full text:
5 Download PDF  

Presented at: SAFE 2007, , Malta, 25-27 juni 2007.

Abstract:
Hot-wire chemical vapor deposition (HWCVD) is a promising technique for very fast deposition of high quality thin films. We investigated silicon nitride (SiNx) deposited with HWCVD as passivating antireflection coating (ARC) at a high deposition rate of 180 nm/min. Series of multi-crystalline silicon (mc-Si) solar cells were made using HWCVD SiNx with different atomic compositions. The open circuit voltage (Voc) and the short circuit current density (Jsc) have an optimum at an N/Si ratio (x) of 1.31. At this composition, the best solar cells reached an efficiency of 15.7 %, close to the best reference cell with optimized microwave PECVD SiNx (16.1%). The optimum at N/Si = 1.31 is explained by the high mass density, which peaks at this composition. Internal Quantum Efficiency (IQE) measurements at 1000 nm confirm this optimum and prove good bulk passivation. The IQE at a wavelength of 400 nm shows a combined optimal effect of surface passivation and absorption. The optimal N/Si ratio of 1.31 is significantly higher than the values reported for PECVD coatings (1.0). This higher N/Si ratio for HWCVD films leads to a larger bandgap and thus lower light absorption. Consequently, a higher IQE blue response and a slightly higher Jsc are obtained with HWCVD SiNx coatings.


Back to List