Microcrystalline silicon and the impact on micromorph tandem solar cells

Intrinsic microcrystalline silicon opens up new ways for silicon thin-film multi-junction solar cells, the most promising being the micromorph tandem concept. The microstructure of entirely microcrystalline p-i-n solar cells is investigated by transmission electron microscopy. By applying low pressure chemical vapor deposition ZnO as front TCO in p-i-n configurated micromorph tandems, a remarkable reduction of the microcrystalline bottom cell thickness is achieved. Micromorph tandem cells with high open circuit voltages of 1.413 V could be accomplished. A stabilized efficiency of around 11% is estimated for micromorph tandems consisting of 2 pm thick bottom cells. Applying the monolithic series connection, a micromorph module (23.3 cm(2)) of 9.1% stabilized efficiency could be obtained. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.