Showing papers on "Polymer solar cell published in 1988"
TL;DR: In this article, a computer-controlled ink-jet printing system for photovoltaic metallization is proposed, and the effects of thermal processes on the solar cells are investigated.
Abstract: A computer-controlled ink-jet printing system for photovoltaic metallization is proposed. Ink-jet printable MOD (metalorganic decomposition) inks of Ag, Bi, Nb, and Ti were synthesized for the photovoltaic study. Computer-controlled ink-jet-assisted metallization for photovoltaics in the low processing temperature range was studied. With a titanium/palladium thin-film underlayer and the multilayer printing method, satisfactory cells for 8.08% average without AR coating were obtained. The effects of thermal processes on the solar cells were investigated. It was observed that appropriate thermal processes could improve the contact resistance and the efficiency of the solar cells, but excess thermal processes would destroy the solar cells. >
100 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the first experience of the use of II-VI compound solar cells was described, and the present solar cells and modules are now on the market for both indoor use and outdoor use.
95 citations
Patent•
ARCO1
TL;DR: An improved method for making solar cells of the type wherein a thin film silicon hydrogen alloy structure is deposited upon a transparent zinc oxide conductive film is described in this paper. But this method requires the zinc oxide film is treated with a glow discharge comprising oxygen.
Abstract: An improved method for making solar cells of the type wherein a thin film silicon hydrogen alloy structure is deposited upon a transparent zinc oxide conductive film. Before deposition of the TFS film, the zinc oxide film is treated with a glow discharge comprising oxygen.
44 citations
Patent•
3M1
TL;DR: In this article, an improved method for manufacturing solar cell tape including depositing a thin-film photovoltaic device on a flexible polymeric substrate, encapsulating the device with a layer of encapsulant, and applying an additional layer of adhesive to the substrate opposite the device is presented.
Abstract: An improved method for manufacturing solar cell tape including depositing a thin-film photovoltaic device on a flexible polymeric substrate, encapsulating the photovoltaic device with a layer of encapsulant, and applying a layer of adhesive to the substrate opposite the photovoltaic device. The improvement is characterized by selecting thickness of the substrate, layer of encapsulant and/or layer of adhesive as a function of their respective flexural moduli to locate a neutral plane of the electronic device near the photovoltaic device. Damaging stress on the photovoltaic device which may be caused when the electronic device is flexed can be reduced.
30 citations
Patent•
14 Jul 1988
TL;DR: In this paper, a method for reusing silicon base material of defective MIS inversion-layer solar cells is proposed, where at least MIS solar cell-specific layers are stripped off and replaced by corresponding new layers.
Abstract: A method is proposed for re-using silicon base material of defective MIS inversion-layer solar cells, where at least MIS solar cell-specific layers are stripped off and replaced by corresponding new layers.
21 citations
Patent•
21 Jun 1988
TL;DR: In this article, a thin film solar cell with an n-i-p structure has roughened substrate surface and to achieve an improved fill factor, the substrate surface of the solar cell is a multiply concave surface and has no sharp points.
Abstract: A thin film solar cell with an n-i-p structure has roughened substrate surface and to achieve an improved fill factor, the substrate surface of the solar cell is a multiply concave surface and has no sharp points.
16 citations
20 Apr 1988
TL;DR: In this paper, Si-rich P-SiN antireflective films were used to improve the conversion efficiency of Si solar cells by 40 to 50 or by 50 to 70% depending on whether a single-layer or double-layer coating was used.
Abstract: Silicon nitride films containing various amounts of Si or O atoms were prepared by controlling the operation parameters of the plasma-chemical vapor deposition in N2-diluted silane mixed with H2-diluted silane or with O2 under various mixing ratios. By this method, the refractive indices of silicon nitride films could be varied over a wide range. The refractive index of films containing oxygen atoms gradually changed through oxygenation; however, oxygen-free plasma-deposited silicon nitride (P-SiN) films containing various amounts of Si atoms were very stable. The spectral response of the reflectance was measured for the latter Si-rich P-SiN films in order to determine the appropriate conditions as antireflective coatings for P/N single crystal Si solar cells. As a result, Si-rich P-SiN antireflective films improved the conversion efficiency of Si solar cells by 40 to 50 or by 50 to 70%, depending on whether a single-layer or double-layer coating, respectively, was used.
12 citations
TL;DR: In this article, an overview of the current research activities in thin film solar cells involving hydrogenated amorphous silicon and its alloy and CdS/CuInSe2-type materials is presented.
11 citations
Patent•
07 Jun 1988
TL;DR: An ultra-high efficiency, monolithic, heteroepitaxial solar cell with three photoactive regions connected in series by their structure as a substantially single crystal multilayer film is disclosed in this article.
Abstract: An ultra-high-efficiency, monolithic, heteroepitaxial solar cell having a high specific power is disclosed. The solar cell includes three photoactive regions connected in series by their structure as a substantially single crystal multilayer film. The three photoactive junctions are in tandem optically. The upper cell, having the highest bandgap, is exposed to the entire solar spectrum, wherein those wavelengths whose energy is less than the upper cell's bandgap are transmitted to the two underlying cells. The intermediate cell similarly filters the solar spectrum transmitted to the lower cell which has the lowest bandgap.
11 citations
01 Jan 1988
TL;DR: In this paper, an alternate method of attaching coverglasses to silicon solar cells is presented based on the electrostatic bonding of a specially developed glass that has an ideal expansion match to the silicon solar cell.
Abstract: An alternate method of attaching coverglasses to silicon solar cells-currently achieved using silicone adhesives-is presented The method is based on the electrostatic bonding of a specially developed glass that has an ideal expansion match to the silicon solar cell Basically, the coverglass and cell are joined by a permanent chemical anodic bond formed by subjecting the cell and coverglass to voltage, temperature, and pressure while in intimate contact with each other Because the front surface of the solar cell forms one of the bonding interfaces, it is important to understand the significance of changes in the cell design or type Work performed in characterizing required cell parameters, eg coating type, texture, etc, and the effects of the bonding process on cell output are discussed >
11 citations
01 Jan 1988
TL;DR: In this paper, a novel cell structure with aligned V-grooves on each side is proposed to realize very thin silicon solar cells, which provides a very high light-trapping effect.
Abstract: A novel cell structure with aligned V-grooves on each side is proposed to realize very thin silicon solar cells. The thickness can be less than 50 mu m without reduction of mechanical strength. This structure provides a very high light-trapping effect. The light-generated current in this structure is calculated as 40.58 mA/cm/sup 2/ under AM1.5 100 mW/cm/sup 2/ sunlight. This structure is expected to realize high efficiency, close to the limiting efficiency of around 29% and to yield fruitful results in concentrator cells. >
TL;DR: An overview of recent developments in the growth of web silicon and in the subsequent fabrication of solar cells is presented in this article, where single-crystal ribbons having a maximum length of 17 m and a maximum width of 7 cm have been produced.
Abstract: An overview of recent developments in the growth of web silicon and in the subsequent fabrication of solar cells is presented. Single-crystal ribbons having a maximum length of 17 m and a maximum width of 7 cm have been produced. In a prepilot facility, web cells with an area of 24.5 cm are made with an average efficiency of 14% (AM1.5,100 mW/cm, 25°C). Advanced processing techniques have been employed to produce cells (4 cm area) with efficiencies approaching 17%. Modules approximately 40 X 120 cm in size with efficiencies as high as 14% have been made using web cells. The primary defect responsible for limiting the efficiency in web cells has been identified as a dislocation decorated with SiOx precipitates. Atomic hydrogen, introduced by ion implantation, has been found to passivate this defect through the entire thickness of the cell. The response of dendritic web silicon cells to 1 MeV electron irradiation has been shown to be very similar to that of cells made from Czochralski silicon.
TL;DR: The history and status of the material and device developments that have led to a five-fold improvement in the conversion efficiency of amorphous silicon-based solar cells are reviewed in this article.
Abstract: Over the past twelve years large strides have been made in improving the conversion efficiency of amorphous silicon based solar cells from 2.4% to 13%. The history and status of the material and device developments that have led to this five-fold improvement in the conversion efficiency are reviewed. Prospects for future improvements are discussed.
TL;DR: In this paper, a new fabrication process of a monolithic series-connected a-Si:H solar cell was investigated, and a conversion efficiency of 10.1% was obtained in the small area cell (1.2 cm2).
TL;DR: In this paper, the influence of an oxide layer between an aluminum underelectrode and hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) on the characteristics of the solar cell on a polyethylene terephthalate film substrate has been examined.
01 Jan 1988
TL;DR: In this article, a radiofrequency glow discharge system has been constructed to produce undoped or intrinsic a-Si:H films with dark conductivity activation energies and σ 0 values ranging between 07-08 eV and 3×10 3 - 2×10 5 (Ωcm) −1, respectively.
Abstract: The hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) solar cell represents a new type of thin film solar cell In this work, a radiofrequency glow-discharge system has been constructed to produce undoped or intrinsic a-Si:H films The dark conductivity activation energies and σ 0 values of the films are ranging between 07–08 eV and 3×10 3 - 2×10 5 (Ωcm) −1 , respectively The mobility-lifetime (μτ) product of these films are in the range 3×10 −6 - 9×10 −6 cm 2 /V and they show strong Steabler-Wronski effect
TL;DR: In this paper, a simple hydrophilic surface treatment before the thermal diffusion greately improves the uniformity of spin-on diffusion on texturised silicon solar cell and suitably controlling the gas ambient during diffusion, the possibility of cross-contamination at the back surface can be reduced significantly.
Abstract: The process parameters of spin-on diffusion technique for the fabrication of single crystal silicon solar cells have been investigated in some detail. It is shown that a simple hydrophilic surface treatment before the thermal diffusion greately improves the uniformity of spin-on diffusion on texturised silicon solar cell. It is also reported that by suitably controlling the gas ambient during diffusion, the possibility of cross-contamination at the back surface can be reduced significantly.
TL;DR: In this article, a simple thermodynamic model, which includes band-tail recombination as the essential recombination loss mechanism, can accurately predict realistic values for the key solar cell parameters (efficiency, opencircuit voltage, short-circuit current and fill factor), as well as their dependence on solar cell temperature.
01 Jan 1988
TL;DR: In this paper, the fill factor for hydrogenated amorphous silicon solar cells was improved by using an intrinsic layer with lower space-charge density, and by using a p/i interface layer with a small amount of hydrogen evolved in the low-temperature region.
Abstract: The fill factor for hydrogenated amorphous silicon solar cells was improved by using an intrinsic layer with lower space-charge density, and by using a p/i interface layer with a small amount of hydrogen evolved in the low-temperature region. Using these improvements as well as a high-performance p-type layer for the fabrication of solar cells resulted in a high conversion efficiency. The fabrication and properties of solar cells are presented. >
01 Jan 1988
TL;DR: In this paper, the optical and electrical properties of a-SiGe:H films with optical gaps of 1.45-1.55 eV were evaluated and the corresponding solar cell performances were compared.
Abstract: The optical and electrical properties of a-SiGe:H films with optical gaps of 1.45-1.55 eV were evaluated and the corresponding solar cell performances were compared. Taking into account the influence of Ge and hydrogen content, the deposition conditions were chosen so as to obtain films with high ratios of photoconductivity to dark conductivity. An enhancement in the spectral response of a-SiGe:H p-i-n cells at long wavelengths was obtained as a result of an improvement in film quality and the utilization of a black reflector. High-efficiency triple-junction solar cells using the a-SiGe:H p-i-n cells as bottom cells were fabricated to achieve 9.5% efficiency for a cell size of 100 cm/sup 2/. >
20 May 1988
01 Jan 1988
TL;DR: In this article, the most important results of characterization of hydrogen implanted polycrystalline silicon solar cells are reported, and it is found that in large grain material the increase of diffusion length due to the passivation of intragrain defects like dislocations is dominating over the reduction of recombination velocity of grain boundaries.
Abstract: The most important results of characterization of hydrogen implanted polycrystalline silicon solar cells are reported. It is found, that in large grain material the increase of diffusion length due to the passivation of intragrain defects like dislocations is dominating over the reduction of recombination velocity of grain boundaries. Also, a reduction of leakage current through the junction is observed leading to a drastic increase of the shunt resistance. The detailed anaysis is presented.
01 Jan 1988
TL;DR: In this paper, a technique for fabricating AlGaAs solar cells on a transparent substrate has been developed which utilizes the most advanced wide-bandgap material on a clear substrate, which can be mechanically stacked on any well-developed existing solar cell.
Abstract: A technique for fabricating AlGaAs solar cells on transparent AlGaAs substrates has been developed which utilizes the most advanced wide-bandgap material on a transparent substrate. The rugged, self-supporting, transparent AlGaAs top solar cell can be mechanically stacked on any well-developed existing solar cell. The key to this success is the growth technique, liquid-phase epitaxy (LPE). Fabrication of tandem or triple stacks is impossible with this transparent, self-supporting AlGaAs device. To obtain high stack efficiencies, the top solar cell must be state-of-the-art. A 1.93 eV AlGaAs top cell results in two-stack solar cells with efficiencies over 30% AM0 and triple stacks approaching 35% AM0. Transmission of 91% of the photons less energetic than the top solar cell bandgap has been demonstrated for the self-supporting AlGaAs substrate. The design rules for the tandem structure and progress in the development of the transparent AlGaAs top solar cell are discussed. >
09 Aug 1988
TL;DR: In this paper, the optical properties of each semiconducting layer in amorphous solar cells were deduced from transmittance and reflectance measurements, including optical gaps, absorbances and photon efficiencies o structures.
Abstract: The optical properties of each semiconducting layer in amorphous solar cells were deduced from transmittance and reflectance measurements. Optical gaps, absorbances and photon efficiencies o structures were deduced. The influence on such properties of the different transparent conductive oxides used as windows in solar cells was obtained by comparing the same structures covered by Tin Oxide and Indium Tin Oxide respectively.