Top

Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology

Published in:

01-06-2015 | Original Paper

SiO₂–TiO₂ scattering layers prepared by sol–gel processing for light management in thin film solar cells

Authors: Jan Hegmann, Rainer Jahn, Steffi Schönau, Nicolas Sommer, Peer Löbmann

Published in: Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology | Issue 3/2015

Activate our intelligent search to find suitable subject content or patents.

search-config

AI-assisted search

Off

Abstract

Thin films containing SiO₂ nanoparticles and a TiO₂ binder were prepared by sol–gel processing; their transparency and haze were characterized. By applying additional SiO₂ films the surface of these scattering layers was smoothened. This procedure improved the microstructure of aluminum-doped zinc oxide and a-Si:H/µc-Si:H subsequently deposited by vapor phase deposition. The electrical properties and performance of the resulting thin film solar cells were characterized. Based on these results the proof of concept is provided for the application of sol–gel derived scattering layers in thin film photovoltaics.

previous article Synthesis of silicon dioxide, silicon, and silicon carbide mesoporous spheres from polystyrene sphere templates

next article Non-supercritical drying sol–gel preparation of superhydrophobic aerogel ORMOSIL thin films with controlled refractive index

Dont have a licence yet? Then find out more about our products and how to get one now:

Springer Professional "Technik"

Online-Abonnement

Mit Springer Professional "Technik" erhalten Sie Zugriff auf:

über 67.000 Bücher
über 390 Zeitschriften

aus folgenden Fachgebieten:

Automobil + Motoren
Bauwesen + Immobilien
Business IT + Informatik
Elektrotechnik + Elektronik
Energie + Nachhaltigkeit
Maschinenbau + Werkstoffe

Jetzt Wissensvorsprung sichern!

inform now

Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik"

Online-Abonnement

Mit Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik" erhalten Sie Zugriff auf:

über 102.000 Bücher
über 537 Zeitschriften

aus folgenden Fachgebieten:

Automobil + Motoren
Bauwesen + Immobilien
Business IT + Informatik
Elektrotechnik + Elektronik
Energie + Nachhaltigkeit
Finance + Banking
Management + Führung
Marketing + Vertrieb
Maschinenbau + Werkstoffe
Versicherung + Risiko

Jetzt Wissensvorsprung sichern!

inform now

Yu E, van de Lagemaat J (2011) Photon management for photovoltaics. MRS Bull 36:424–428CrossRef

Faÿ S, Steinhauser J, Nicolay S, Ballif C (2010) Polycrystalline ZnO: B grown by LPCVD as TCO for thin film silicon solar cells. Thin Solid Films 518(11):2961–2966CrossRef

Sai H, Jia H, Kondo M (2010) Impact of front and rear texture of thin-film microcrystalline silicon solar cells on their light trapping properties. J Appl Phys 108(4):044505CrossRef

Schweizer SL, Sprafke AN, Wehrspohn RB (2013) 3D photonic crystals for photon management in solar cells. Proc SPIE 8808:8808041–88080417

Müller J, Rech B, Springer J, Vanecek M (2005) TCO and light trapping in silicon thin film solar cells. Sol Energy 77:917–930CrossRef

Berginski M, Hüpkes J, Schulte M, Schöpe G, Stiebig H, Rech B (2007) The effect of front ZnO:Al surface texture and optical transparency on efficient light trapping in silicon thin-film solar cells. J Appl Phys 101:0749031–07490311CrossRef

Hüpkes J, Owen J, Pust S, Bunte E (2012) Chemical etching of zinc oxide for thin film silicon solar cells. Chem Phys Chem 13:66–73

Krc J, Zeman M, Smole F, Topic M (2004) Optical modelling of thin-film silicon solar cells deposited on textured substrates. Thin Solid Films 451–452:298–302CrossRef

Python M, Vallat-Sauvain E, Bailat J, Dominé D, Fesquet L, Shah A, Ballif C (2008) Relation between substrate surface morphology and microcrystalline silicon solar cell performance. J Non-Cryst Solids 354(19–25):2258–2262CrossRef

10.

Krasnov A (2010) Light scattering by textured transparent electrodes for thin-film silicon solar cells. Sol Energy Mater Solar Cells 94:1648–1657CrossRef

11.

Owen J, Hüpkes J, Zhu H, Bunte E, Pust S (2011) Novel etch process to tune crater size on magnetron sputtered ZnO:Al. Phys Status Solidi (A) 208(1):109CrossRef

12.

Jäger K, Isabella O, Zhao L, Zeman M (2010) Light scattering properties of surface textured substrates. Phys Status Solidi C 7(3–4):945–948

13.

Söderström K, Bugnon G, Biron R, Pahud C, Meillaud F, Haug F, Ballif C (2012) Thin-film silicon triple-junction solar cell with 12.5% stable efficiency on innovative flat light-scattering substrate. J Appl Phys 112:114503CrossRef

14.

Wang J, Venkataraj S, Battaglia C, Vayalakkara P, Aberle AG (2012) Analysis of optical and morphological properties of aluminium induced texture glass superstrates. Jpn J Appl Phys. doi:10.1143/JJAP.51.10NB08

15.

Hegmann J, Mandl M, Löbmann P (2014) Sol–gel derived scattering layers as substrates for thin-film photovoltaic cells. Thin Solid Films. doi:10.1016/j.tsf.2014.06.012

16.

Neubert S, Ring S, Welker F, Götzendörfer S, Ruske F, Stannowski B, Schlatmann R, Rech B (2014) Very thin, highly-conductive ZnO:Al front electrode on textured glass as substrate for thin-film silicon solar cells. Phys Status Solidi RRL 8:44–47CrossRef

17.

Zhu J, Hsu C, Yu Z, Fan S, Cui Y (2010) Nanodome solar cells with efficient light management and self-cleaning. Nano Lett 10:1979–1984CrossRef

18.

Battaglia C, Escarré J, Söderström K, Erni L, Ding L, Bugnon G, Billet A, Boccard M, Barraud L, De Wolf S, Haug F-J, Despeisse M, Ballif C (2011) Nanoimprint lithography for high-efficiency thin-film silicon solar cells. Nano Lett 11(2):661–665CrossRef

19.

Meier M, Paetzold UW, Prömpers M, Merdzhanova T, Carius R, Gordijn A (2013) UV nanoimprint for the replication of etched ZnO:Al textures applied in thin-film silicon solar cells. Prog Photovolt Res Appl. doi:10.1002/pip

20.

Boccard M, Söderström T, Cuony P, Battaglia C, Hänni S, Nicolay S, Ding L, Benkhaira M, Bugnon G, Billet A, Charrière M, Meillaud F, Despeisse M, Ballif C (2012) Optimization of ZnO front electrodes for high-efficiency micromorph thin-film Si solar cells. IEEE J Photovolt 2(3):229–235CrossRef

21.

Löbmann P, Röhlen P (2003) Industrial processing of TiO₂ thin films from soluble precursor powders. J Glass Sci Technol 76:1–7

22.

Bogush GH, Tracy MA, Zukoski CF (1988) Preparation of monodisperse silica particles: control of size and mass fraction. J Non-Cryst Solids 104:95–106CrossRef

23.

Woerdenweber J, Merdzhanova T, Zimmermann T, Flikweert A, Stiebig H, Beyer W, Gordijn A (2012) Cross-contamination in single-chamber processes for thin-film silicon solar Cells. J Non-Cryst Solids 358:2183–2186CrossRef

24.

Fliekweert AJ, Zimmermann T, Merdzhanova T, Weigand D, Appenzeller W, Gordijn A (2012) Microcrystalline thin-film solar cell deposition on moving substrates using linear VHF PECVD reactor and a cross-flow geometry. J Phys D Appl Phys 45:015101CrossRef

25.

Smit C, van Swaaij R, Donker H, Petit A, Kessels W, van de Sanden M (2003) Determining the material structure of microcrystalline silicon from Raman spectra. J Appl Phys 94:3582–3588CrossRef

26.

Köhler F, Schicho S, Wolfrum B, Gordijn A, Pust SE, Carius R (2012) Gradient etching of silicon-based thin films for depth-resolved measurements: the example of Raman crystallinity. Thin Solid Films 520:2605–2608CrossRef

Title: SiO2–TiO2 scattering layers prepared by sol–gel processing for light management in thin film solar cells
Authors: Jan Hegmann
Rainer Jahn
Steffi Schönau
Nicolas Sommer
Peer Löbmann
Publication date: 01-06-2015
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology / Issue 3/2015
Print ISSN: 0928-0707
Electronic ISSN: 1573-4846
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-015-3637-0

Springer Professional

Abstract

Please log in to get access to your license.

Dont have a licence yet? Then find out more about our products and how to get one now:

Springer Professional "Technik"

Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik"

Other articles of this Issue 3/2015

Storable silicon/shape memory polyurethane hybrid sols prepared by a facile synthesis process and their application to aramid fibers

Three modes of high-efficient photocatalysis using composites of TiO2-nanocrystallite-containing mesoporous SiO2 and Au nanoparticles

Non-supercritical drying sol–gel preparation of superhydrophobic aerogel ORMOSIL thin films with controlled refractive index

The effect of titania precursors and ceria loadings on textural and chemical properties of TiO2–CeO2 and Pt–Rh/TiO2–CeO2

Bridged mesoporous silsesquioxanes as potential CO2 adsorbents

Antibacterial activities of sol–gel derived ZnO-multilayered thin films: p-NiO heterojunction layer effect

Premium Partners