Regensburg 2010 – scientific programme

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DS: Fachverband Dünne Schichten

DS 9: Poster: Synthesis of Nanostructured Films by Self-organization, Thermoelectric Thin Films and Nanostructures, High-k and Low-k Dielectrics, Layer Deposition Processes, Layer Growth, Layer Properties, Application of Thin Films, Surface Modification, Hard and Superhard Coatings, Metal Layers

DS 9.13: Poster

Monday, March 22, 2010, 15:00–17:30, Poster D1

Texturing of ZnO films on glass for use as a light-scattering layer in micromorphous silicon thin film solar cells — •Kambulakwao Chakanga — EWE-Forschungszentrum für Energietechnologie e.V., Next-Energy, Oldenburg, Germany

Light Trapping is a profound tool for enhancing solar cell efficiency by increasing light absorption and decreasing reflection. Glass/TCO interfaces with textured TCO layers are commonly implemented in micromorph solar cells to scatter incident light and increase the optical path. However altering the morphology of the front contact TCO also affects the optical and electrical properties of the solar cell.

This master thesis aims to analyse this relationship between the texture and the optoelectronic properties in ZnO:Al. ZnO:Al has been chosen because it is frequently argued as being more beneficial in comparison to commercially available TCOs. The commercially available ASAHI-U-type SnO2:F is analysed as a reference.

The different surface textures are obtained by wet chemical etching with different acids in different concentrations, at different etching periods. Subsequently the morphology is investigated by atomic force microscopy. The optical properties are measured by spectrometry. The haze factor is determined as a descriptive scatter parameter. Finally the electrical properties are measured with a Four-Point-Probe.