Structural Properties of Microcrystalline Si Solar Cells

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe structural properties of nip-µc-Si:H solar cells are investigated by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. Different structural compositions are obtained by variation of the gas mixture during preparation by plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition. Nucleation and growth of the n-layer onto textured TCO substrate was found to be similar to the growth on glass substrates. The growth of the i-layer follows a local epitaxy. This implies that the structure of the n-layer is of special importance regarding the control of the microstructure in microcrystalline Si nip solar cells.