The Development of Inexpensive Negatively Charged Films to Increase the Efficiency of Commercial Solar Cells

This project aims to reduce the cost of solar electricity by developing inexpensive negatively charged dielectric films. When deposited on the surfaces of silicon solar cells, such films would significantly increase cell efficiency by preventing almost all electrons from reaching surface defects. The project will examine Al2O3 and TiO2both of which can be instilled with a high negative chargewhere the films are formed by atmospheric chemical vapour deposition. These films and this deposition technology offer a promising route to commercialisation, being far less expensive than their alternatives. The project will bring together investigators with expertise in dielectric films, semicondutor physics, and industrial manufacturing.