Hidden parameters in the plasma deposition of microcrystalline silicon solar cells

Journal of Materials Research volume 22, pages1767–1774(2007)Cite this article

Abstract

The effect of process parameters on the plasma deposition of μc-Si:H solar cells is reviewed in this article. Several in situ diagnostics are presented, which can be used to study the process stability as an additional parameter in the deposition process. The diagnostics were used to investigate the stability of the substrate temperature during deposition at elevated power and the gas composition during deposition at decreased hydrogen dilution. Based on these investigations, an updated view on the role of the process parameters of plasma power, heater temperature, total gas flow rate, and hydrogen dilution is presented.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors kindly thank W. Appenzeller, F. Birmans, R. Carius, A. Gordijn, M. Hülsbeck, D. Grunsky, Y. Mai, and S. Reynolds for fruitful discussions and experimental support. Helianthos BV is acknowledged for financial support. The research of W.M.M. Kessels was made possible through a fellowship of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW).

Author information

Author notes

  1. M.N. van den Donker

    Present address: Solland Solar Cells BV, Bohr 10, 6422 RL, Heerlen, The Netherlands

  2. B. Rech

    Present address: Department Silicon Photovoltaics (SE1), Hahn-Meitner-Institut Berlin, Kekuléstraße 5, 12489, Berlin, Germany

Affiliations

  1. Institut für Energieforachung-Photovaltank (IPV), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Jülich, 52425, Germany

    M.N. van den Donker, B. Rech, R. Schmitz, J. Klomfass, G. Dingemans & F. Finger

  2. Institut für Festkorpenforschung (IFF), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Jülich, 52425, Germany

    L. Houben

  3. Applied Physics, Technical University (TU) Eindhoven, Eindhoven, 5600MB, The Netherlands

    W.M.M. Kessels & M.C.M. van de Sanden

Authors
  1. M.N. van den Donker
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  2. B. Rech
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  3. R. Schmitz
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  4. J. Klomfass
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  5. G. Dingemans
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  6. F. Finger
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  7. L. Houben
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  8. W.M.M. Kessels
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  9. M.C.M. van de Sanden
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to F. Finger.

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van den Donker, M., Rech, B., Schmitz, R. et al. Hidden parameters in the plasma deposition of microcrystalline silicon solar cells. Journal of Materials Research 22, 1767–1774 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1557/jmr.2007.0226

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