We report on the development and application of p- and n-type hydrogenated microcrystalline silicon oxide (μc-SiOx:H) alloys in tandem thin film silicon solar cells. Our results show that the optical, electrical, and structural properties of μc-SiOx:H can be conveniently tuned over a wide range...

The impact of defects on the performance of p- and n-side illuminated microcrystalline silicon solar cells is investigated. The absorber layer spin density NS is controlled over some two orders of magnitude by electron bombardment and subsequent annealing steps. At increased NS (between 3x1016...

N-type hydrogenated microcrystalline silicon oxide (μc-SiOx:H) layers were used as window layers in n-side illuminated microcrystalline silicon n–i–p solar cells. Optical, electrical and structural properties of μc-SiOx:H films were investigated by Photothermal Deflection Spectroscopy,...

A study of the effects of microcrystalline silicon i-layer modification near p/i interface in tandem configuration silicon thin film solar cells is presented. The structural properties of the absorber layers were investigated by Raman spectroscopy at different stages of growth. The results...

The effects of exposure to atmosphere (ageing) and light-soaking on coplanar dark- and photo-conductivity of silicon films of varying crystallinity are examined. Dark conductivity generally increases on ageing in films with significant amorphous fraction and decreases in largely crystalline...

Measurements of dark conductivity, steady-state and transient photoconductivity in undoped and boron-doped microcrystalline silicon films exposed to room air are reported. Two aging processes are identified: (i) an increase in dark conductivity and mobility-lifetime product occurring over several...

Transient photoconductivity in microcrystalline silicon thin films prepared by VHF PECVD over a range of [silane] : [silane + hydrogen] concentrations r from 3 to 6.3% has been measured as a function of temperature (210 K - 390 K) and laser pulse density (1013 – 1016 cm3). The behavior of...