A Brief Review of Transparent Conducting Oxides (TCO): The Influence of Different Deposition Techniques on the Efficiency of Solar Cells

Global-warming-induced climate changes and socioeconomic issues increasingly stimulate reviews of renewable energy. Among energy-generation devices, solar cells are often considered as renewable sources of energy. Lately, transparent conducting oxides (TCOs) are playing a significant role as back/front contact electrodes in silicon heterojunction solar cells (SHJ SCs). In particular, the optimized Sn-doped In2O3 (ITO) has served as a capable TCO material to improve the efficiency of SHJ SCs, due to excellent physicochemical properties such as high transmittance, electrical conductivity, mobility, bandgap, and a low refractive index. The doped-ITO thin films had promising characteristics and helped in promoting the efficiency of SHJ SCs. Further, SHJ technology, together with an interdigitated back contact structure, achieved an outstanding efficiency of 26.7%. The present article discusses the deposition of TCO films by various techniques, parameters affecting TCO properties, characteristics of doped and undoped TCO materials, and their influence on SHJ SC efficiency, based on a review of ongoing research and development activities.

Automated summary

Global warming and socioeconomic issues have led to increased focus on renewable energy, with solar cells being considered an important source. Transparent conducting oxides (TCOs), particularly Sn-doped In2O3 (ITO), have proven to be effective TCO materials for improving the efficiency of silicon heterojunction solar cells (SHJ SCs). The use of doped-ITO thin films has shown promising characteristics and contributed to the increased efficiency of SHJ SCs. The article discusses the deposition of TCO films, parameters affecting TCO properties, characteristics of doped and undoped TCO materials, and their impact on SHJ SC efficiency, based on ongoing research and development activities.