Amorphous and micromorph Si solar cells: current status and outlook

Vitaliy AVRUTIN; Natalia IZYUMSKAYA; Hadis MORKOÇ

Article Details

Amorphous and micromorph Si solar cells: current status and outlook

Authors:

Vitaliy AVRUTIN | Natalia IZYUMSKAYA | Hadis MORKOÇ

Publisher:

TUBITAK

Journal:

Turkish Journal of Physics 2014 Vol.38 Issue 3, pp.526-542

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

2/2014

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2000760015

Frequency:

Bimonthly

eISSN:

1303-6122

pISSN:

1300-0101

Keywords:

Abstract:

 

An overview of the current status and prospects of thin-film Si photovoltaics, including both hydrogenated amorphous and microcrystalline Si as well their combination known as micromorph solar cells, with a major focus on the technological development is given. Although thin-film Si solar cells have been one of the first commercially successful photovoltaic devices, today they face a tremendous challenge from variety of bulk Si technologies (mono- and multicrystalline Si) and compound-semiconductor thin-film solar cells, both of which have managed to substantially reduce the production cost and improve power conversion efficiency. Thin-film Si photovoltaics benefiting from the mighty mainstream Si industry have demonstrated the ability to reduce the production cost and cost per peak power; however, the performance improvement of amorphous-Si panels has been only marginal and further progress is hard to expect. The power conversion efficiencies of micromorph solar cells have already exceeded those of amorphous-Si devices. However, to improve their market penetration and even to hold their current share, the micromorph Si solar modules need to improve their performance, which today is approaching 11%, along the path to potential 15%, while keeping the manufacturing cost low. Further progress will require the improvement of light-trapping technologies and contact performance.

 

An overview of the current status and prospects of thin-film Si photovoltaics, including both hydrogenated amorphous and microcrystalline Si as well their combination known as micromorph solar cells, with a major focus on the technological development is given. Although thin-film Si solar cells have been one of the first commercially successful photovoltaic devices, today they face a tremendous challenge from variety of bulk Si technologies (mono- and multicrystalline Si) and compound-semiconductor thin-film solar cells, both of which have managed to substantially reduce the production cost and improve power conversion efficiency. Thin-film Si photovoltaics benefiting from the mighty mainstream Si industry have demonstrated the ability to reduce the production cost and cost per peak power; however, the performance improvement of amorphous-Si panels has been only marginal and further progress is hard to expect. The power conversion efficiencies of micromorph solar cells have already exceeded those of amorphous-Si devices. However, to improve their market penetration and even to hold their current share, the micromorph Si solar modules need to improve their performance, which today is approaching 11%, along the path to potential 15%, while keeping the manufacturing cost low. Further progress will require the improvement of light-trapping technologies and contact performance.

Article Details

Amorphous and micromorph Si solar cells: current status and outlook

Authors:

Vitaliy AVRUTIN | Natalia IZYUMSKAYA | Hadis MORKOÇ

Publisher:

TUBITAK

Journal:

Turkish Journal of Physics 2014 Vol.38 Issue 3, pp.526-542

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

2/2014

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2000760015

Frequency:

Bimonthly

eISSN:

1303-6122

pISSN:

1300-0101

Photovoltaics

amorphous silicon solar cells

micromorph

amorphous silicon

microcrystalline silicon

Issues

Article Details

Amorphous and micromorph Si solar cells: current status and outlook

Authors: Vitaliy AVRUTIN | Natalia IZYUMSKAYA | Hadis MORKOÇ

Publisher: TUBITAK

Journal: Turkish Journal of Physics 2014 Vol.38 Issue 3, pp.526-542

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 2/2014

Document Language: Turkish

Document ID (Org No.): 2000760015

Frequency: Bimonthly

eISSN: 1303-6122

pISSN: 1300-0101

Photovoltaics

amorphous silicon solar cells

micromorph

amorphous silicon

microcrystalline silicon

Issues

Authors:

Vitaliy AVRUTIN | Natalia IZYUMSKAYA | Hadis MORKOÇ

Publisher:

TUBITAK

Journal:

Turkish Journal of Physics 2014 Vol.38 Issue 3, pp.526-542

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

2/2014

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2000760015

Frequency:

Bimonthly

eISSN:

1303-6122

pISSN:

1300-0101