TY - JOUR
T1 - Temperature and Humidity Stable Alkali/Alkaline-Earth Metal Carbonates as Electron Heterocontacts for Silicon Photovoltaics
AU - Wan, Yimao
AU - Bullock, James
AU - Hettick, Mark
AU - Xu, Zhaoran
AU - Samundsett, Chris
AU - Yan, Di
AU - Peng, Jun
AU - Ye, Jichun
AU - Javey, Ali
AU - Cuevas, Andres
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2018 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim
PY - 2018/8/6
Y1 - 2018/8/6
N2 - Nanometer scale interfacial layers between the metal cathode and the n-type semiconductor play a critical role in enhancing the transport of charge carriers in and out of optoelectronic devices. Here, a range of nanoscale alkali and alkaline earth metal carbonates (i.e., potassium, rubidium, caesium, calcium, strontium, and barium) are shown to function effectively as electron heterocontacts to lightly doped n-type crystalline silicon (c-Si), which is particularly challenging to contact with common metals. These carbonate interlayers are shown to enhance the performance of n-type c-Si proof-of-concept solar cells up to a power conversion efficiency of ≈19%. Furthermore, these devices are thermally stable up to 350 °C and both the caesium and barium carbonates pass a standard 1000 h damp heat test, with >95% of their initial performance maintained. The temperature and humidity stable electron heterocontacts based on alkali and alkaline earth metal carbonates show a high potential for industrial feasibility and longevity for deployment in the field.
AB - Nanometer scale interfacial layers between the metal cathode and the n-type semiconductor play a critical role in enhancing the transport of charge carriers in and out of optoelectronic devices. Here, a range of nanoscale alkali and alkaline earth metal carbonates (i.e., potassium, rubidium, caesium, calcium, strontium, and barium) are shown to function effectively as electron heterocontacts to lightly doped n-type crystalline silicon (c-Si), which is particularly challenging to contact with common metals. These carbonate interlayers are shown to enhance the performance of n-type c-Si proof-of-concept solar cells up to a power conversion efficiency of ≈19%. Furthermore, these devices are thermally stable up to 350 °C and both the caesium and barium carbonates pass a standard 1000 h damp heat test, with >95% of their initial performance maintained. The temperature and humidity stable electron heterocontacts based on alkali and alkaline earth metal carbonates show a high potential for industrial feasibility and longevity for deployment in the field.
KW - alkali carbonate
KW - alkaline earth metal carbonates
KW - electron heterocontacts
KW - silicon photovoltaics
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85047775266&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1002/aenm.201800743
DO - 10.1002/aenm.201800743
M3 - Article
SN - 1614-6832
VL - 8
JO - Advanced Energy Materials
JF - Advanced Energy Materials
IS - 22
M1 - 1800743
ER -