Tantalum Nitride Hole-Blocking Layer for Efficient Silicon Solar Cells

Xinbo Yang, Erkan Aydin, Hang Xu, Jingxuan Kang, Wenzhu Liu, Yimao Wan, Christian Samundsett, Andres Cuevas, Stefaan De Wolf

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

    4 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Minimizing carrier recombination losses at contact regions by using carrier-selective contact materials, instead of heavily doping the silicon, has attracted considerable attention for high-efficiency, low-cost crystalline silicon (c-Si) solar cells. Here we present a novel and stable metal nitride based hole-blocking layer for efficient silicon solar cells.The ALD-deposited tantalum nitride (TaNx) films are demonstrated to provide excellent holeblocking property on silicon surfaces, due to their small conduction band offset and large valence band offset with silicon. Thin TaNx films are found to provide not only moderate surface passivation to silicon surfaces, but also allow a relatively low contact resistivity at the TaNx n-Si heterojunctions. An efficiency over 20% is achieved on n-type silicon solar cells featuring a simple full-area electron-selective TaNx contact, representing an absolute efficiency gain of 4.0% over the control device without TaNxcontact.

    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publication2018 IEEE 7th World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion, WCPEC 2018 - A Joint Conference of 45th IEEE PVSC, 28th PVSEC and 34th EU PVSEC
    PublisherInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
    Pages2087-2091
    Number of pages5
    ISBN (Electronic)9781538685297
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 26 Nov 2018
    Event7th IEEE World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion, WCPEC 2018 - Waikoloa Village, United States
    Duration: 10 Jun 201815 Jun 2018

    Publication series

    Name2018 IEEE 7th World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion, WCPEC 2018 - A Joint Conference of 45th IEEE PVSC, 28th PVSEC and 34th EU PVSEC

    Conference

    Conference7th IEEE World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion, WCPEC 2018
    Country/TerritoryUnited States
    CityWaikoloa Village
    Period10/06/1815/06/18

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