Microstructures, optical and photoelectric conversion properties of spherical silicon solar cells with anti-reflection SnOx:F thin films

The microstructures and optical and photoelectric conversion properties of spherical silicon (Si) solar cells were investigated and discussed. The surface of the spherical Si with a pn junction provided high crystallinity, and the lattice constant of the center of Si spheres is larger than that of the surface, which would be due to the lattice distortion by defect structures at the center of Si. The conversion efficiencies of spherical Si solar cells coated with SnOx:F anti-reflection thin films were improved by annealing. The optical absorption and fluorescence of the solar cells increased, and the lattice constants of SnOx:F anti-reflection layers decreased after annealing. The mechanisms of chemical reactions at the Si/metal interface were also discussed. (C) 2014 The Japan Society of Applied Physics