Infrared-Photovoltaic Responses of Ion-Beam Synthesized β-FeSi2/n-Si Heterojunctions

Abstract

AbstractPhotoresponses of photovoltaic cells using ion-beam synthesized (IBS) polycrystalline p+-β-FeSi2/n-Si heterojunctions were examined in an infrared (IR) wavelength region. At room temperature, an evident photoresponse due to an internal photoemission from trap levels in β-FeSi2 with the threshold energy Φ=0.62 eV was observed at 0.6-0.87 eV. The pronounced increase of a photoresponse corresponding mostly to an interband transition in β-FeSi2 was observed at 0.87-1.1 eV. The maximum dominated by a surface recombination process appeared around ∼1.2 eV. The surface recombination rate of ∼104 cm/s was estimated. The quantum efficiency was ∼60 % in the 0.8-1.0 µm wavelength region and ∼14 % around the band-gap of βFeSi2.