Thin-film solar cells without added silicon 'bulk' is the new creation of Czech and Swiss researchers and industry actors, who worked together to deliver a product that could deliver greater efficiency. The study was funded in part by the N2P ('Flexible production technologies and equipment based on atmospheric pressure plasma processing for 3D [three-dimensional] nano structured surfaces') project, which has clinched EUR 7.4 million under the 'Nanosciences, nanotechnologies, materials and new production technologies' (NMP) Theme of the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7). The design is presented in the journal Applied Physics Letters.
Researchers from the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic and experts from the Swiss-based group Oerlikon Solar Lab targeted the development of a long-term option for high-yield but low-cost industrial production of solar panels from raw materials. According to the team, these can be found in amorphous silicon solar cells and microcrystalline silicon tandem cells. The upshot is energy that is much more efficient.
'To make amorphous and microcrystalline silicon cells more stable, they're required to be very thin because of tight spacing between electrical contacts, and the resulting optical absorption isn't sufficient,' explains Dr Vanecek. 'They're basically planar devices. Amorphous silicon has a thickness of 200 to 300 nanometres, while microcrystalline silicon is thicker than 1 micrometre.'
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