Improvement in efficiency of micromorph tandem silicon solar cells by designing proper interfaces.

ABSTRACT

Efficient light management for micromorph tandem solar cells is achieved in this Letter by the combined application of TiO(2) and SiO(x) interlayers. Here, TiO(2) is incorporated into a ZnO/a-Si interface as an antireflection layer and SiO(x) is incorporated into an a-Si/µc-Si interface as an intermediate reflecting layer. Solar cells with such architecture not only increase the light absorption but also reduce the mismatch losses of current between the top and bottom cells. The key results, as evidenced by the spectral response measurements, are that the total photocurrent increases from 22.62 to 24.35 mA/cm(2), as well as the short circuit current density of the two component cells is reached to a delicate balance. The influences of the interlayer thickness and morphology on the improvement have been investigated using an electromagnetic simulation in order to take full advantage of this design.