Thin-Film Amorphous Silicon Alloy Research Partnership, Phase I: Annual Technical Progress Report, 2 February 1995 - 1 February 1996

Thin-Film Amorphous Silicon Alloy Research Partnership, Phase I: Annual Technical Progress Report, 2 February 1995 - 1 February 1996
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Total Pages: 0
Release: 1996
Genre:
ISBN:

This report describes the research performed during Phase I of a three-phase, 3-year program that is intended to expand, enhance, and accelerate knowledge and capabilities for developing high-performance, two-terminal, multijunction amorphous silicon (a-Si) alloy modules. A multijunction, multibandgap approach has the potential of achieving the highest stable efficiency in a-Si alloy solar cells.In this approach, the bandgap of the materials of the component cells is varied to capture a wide spectrum of the solar photons. Significant progress has been made in the development of materials and cell design in the last few years; however, to meet the Department of Energy goal of 12% stable module efficiency by 1998, it is necessary to make further improvements in each of the component cells. New back reflectors also need to be developed to facilitate improved light-trapping performance. The aim of this program is to develop a manufacturing technology; the research work must address issues involving scale-up, reliability, and cost, and issues that encompass module interconnect and encapsulation methods, as well.

Thin-film Amorphous Silicon Alloy Research Partnership. Phase 2, Annual Technical Progress Report, 2 February 1996--1 February 1997

Thin-film Amorphous Silicon Alloy Research Partnership. Phase 2, Annual Technical Progress Report, 2 February 1996--1 February 1997
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Total Pages: 47
Release: 1997
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This is Phase II of a 3-phase, 3-year program. It is intended to expand, enhance, and accelerate knowledge and capabilities for developing high-performance, two-terminal multijunction amorphous Si alloy modules. We discuss investigations on back reflectors to improve cell performance and investigate uniformity in performance over a 1-sq.-ft. area. We present results on component cell performance, both in the initial and in the light-degraded states, deposited over a 1-sq.-ft. area. The uniformity in deposited is investigated by studying the performance of subcells deposited over the entire area. We also present results on the performance of triple- junction cells and modules. The modules use grid-lines and encapsulants compatible with our production technology. We discuss the novel laser-processing technique that has bee developed at United Solar to improve energy-conversion efficiency and reduce manufacturing costs. We discuss in detail the optimization of the processing steps, and the performance of a laser-processed, triple- junction device of 12.6 cm2 area is presented. We also present experimental results on investigations of module reliability.

Thin-film Amorphous Silicon Alloy Research Partnership. Final Technical Progress Report, 2 February 1995--28 February 1998

Thin-film Amorphous Silicon Alloy Research Partnership. Final Technical Progress Report, 2 February 1995--28 February 1998
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Total Pages: 69
Release: 1998
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This report describes the status and accomplishments of work performed by United Solar Systems Corp. under this subcontract. Investigations were carried out on Ag/ZnO, Ag/TiO2/ZnO and Ag/MgF2/ZnO back reflectors to assess their suitability for use in cell structures. Arrays of high-efficiency component cells were made over 1-ft2 areas. Single-junction top cells were made with an average stabilized power density of 5.4 mW/cm2 measured under global AM1.5 illumination. Single-junction middle cells were optimized to give average stabilized power density of 3.6 mW/cm2 under global AM1.5 illumination with a cut-on filter with?> 530 nm. Arrays of high-efficiency triple-junction cells of 0.25-cm2 active area were fabricated over 1-ft2 area with average stabilized efficiency of 12% as measured under AM1.5 illumination. A triple-junction module of a 416-cm2 aperture area was fabricated with an initial efficiency of 11.7% and stabilized efficiency of 10.24%. A 922-cm2 aperture-area module exhibited an initial efficiency of 11.5%. The novel laser-drilling approach was used successfully to fabricate modules of 1-ft2 area with shadow loss of approximately 1%. Using this laser-drilling approach, an initial total-area efficiency of 11.5% was achieved in a triple-cell structure of 12.6 cm2 area. An initial total-area efficiency of 10.6% was achieved in a module of 300-cm2 area. Reliability studies based on NRELs̀ Interim Qualification Testing were carried out to confirm the suitability of the module encapsulation materials and processes. 29 figs., 17 tabs.

Technology and Applications of Amorphous Silicon

Technology and Applications of Amorphous Silicon
Author: Robert A. Street
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 429
Release: 2013-06-29
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 3662041413

This book gives the first systematic and complete survey of technology and application of amorphous silicon, a material with a huge potential in electronic applications. The book features contributions by world-wide leading researchers in this field.

Thin-film Amorphous Silicon Alloy Research Partnership, Phase I. Annual Technical Progress Report, February 2, 1995--February 1, 1996

Thin-film Amorphous Silicon Alloy Research Partnership, Phase I. Annual Technical Progress Report, February 2, 1995--February 1, 1996
Author:
Publisher:
Total Pages: 44
Release: 1996
Genre:
ISBN:

The principal objective of this R & D program is to expand, enhance and accelerate knowledge and capabilities for the development of high-performance, two-terminal multifunction amorphous silicon (a-Si) alloy modules. The near-term goal of the program is to achieve 12% stable module efficiency by 1998 using the multifunction approach. This report describes research on back reflectors of Ag/TiO2/ZnO.