Silicon solar cells with antireflection diamond-like carbon and silicon carbide films

• Published in: Solar energy materials and solar cells Vol. 72; no. 1; pp. 597 - 603
• Main Authors: Klyui, N.I., Litovchenko, V.G., Rozhin, A.G., Dikusha, V.N., Kittler, M., Seifert, W.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.04.2002; Elsevier
• Subjects: Antireflection and protective coating; Antireflection coatings; Applied sciences; Carbon film; Diamond like carbon films; Energy; Exact sciences and technology; Metallic films; Natural energy; Passivation; Photovoltaic conversion; Protective coatings; Refractive index; Silicon carbide; Solar cell; Solar cells. Photoelectrochemical cells; Solar energy; Solar cell; Carbon film; Antireflection and protective coating; Silicon solar cells; Silicon carbide; Optical properties; Diamond; Performance; Carbon; Antireflection coating
• ISSN: 0927-0248; 1879-3398
• DOI: 10.1016/S0927-0248(01)00209-4

Optical properties of diamond-like carbon and silicon carbide (SiC) films in dependence on deposition conditions were investigated. It was established that the films having refractive index from 1.6 to 2.3 may be obtained. The film optical bandgap and hardness may be changed from 1.5 to 4 eV and from ∼1 to ∼20 GPa, correspondingly. The films were deposited onto the front side of silicon solar cells (SCs). It has been shown that deposition of single- or two-layer diamond-like carbon antireflection (AR) coatings enables the SCs efficiency to be improved 1.35–1.5 times. The improvement is connected with decreasing of reflection losses and passivation of recombination active centers. SiC AR coatings improve the solar cell efficiency up to 1.3 times.