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De-coupling of optical and electrical properties in front TCO using the bilayer concept for thin-film solar cells

Journal Article (2025)
Author(s)

F.S. Saitta (TU Delft - Photovoltaic Materials and Devices)

Prashand Kalpoe (TU Delft - Mechanical Engineering)

Vidur Ahluwalia (Student TU Delft)

G. Padmakumar (TU Delft - Photovoltaic Materials and Devices)

P. Perez-Rodriguez (TU Delft - Photovoltaic Materials and Devices)

Gianluca Limodio (TU Delft - QN/Kavli Nanolab Delft)

R. Santbergen (TU Delft - Photovoltaic Materials and Devices)

AHM Smets (TU Delft - Photovoltaic Materials and Devices)

Research Group
Photovoltaic Materials and Devices
DOI related publication
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solmat.2025.113723
More Info
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Publication Year
2025
Language
English
Research Group
Photovoltaic Materials and Devices
Volume number
290
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Abstract

This study investigates the transparent conductive oxides (TCOs) as front contact for thin-film solar cell applications by developing a bilayer design that decouples the optical and electrical functionalities. The bilayer front contact structure combines hydrogenated indium oxide (IOH) and non-intentionally doped zinc oxide (ZnO) materials. This design achieves enhanced optoelectrical properties with a mobility of 120 cm2/Vs and a carrier density of 1.97·1019 cm-3. Notably, the bilayer outperforms the expected average of its constituent layers in both transparency and conductivity, reflecting the benefits of optimized layer architecture. When integrated as the front electrode in a hydrogenated nanocrystalline silicon (nc-Si:H) solar cell, the IOH/ZnO bilayer yields a fill factor of 64.56 % and a power conversion efficiency of 7.85 %. When using an ITO front contact, the nc-Si:H solar cell reveals a fill factor of 56.27 % and an efficiency of 6.80 %. By successfully decoupling optical and electrical properties, the optimized IOH/ZnO bilayer offers a significant advancement over single-layer TCO configurations, presenting an innovative pathway for enhanced performance in thin-film solar cell technology.