Improvement of hole transport from p-Si with interfacial layers for silicon solar cells

Numerous studies and approaches have been performed for solar cells to improve their photoelectric conversion efficiencies. Among them, the study for electrode containing transparent conducting oxide (TCO) layers is one of issues as well as for the cell structure based on band theory. In this study, we focused on an interfacial layer between p-type silicon and indium tin oxide (ITO) well-known as TCO materials. According to current-voltage characteristics for the sample with the interfacial layers, the improvement of band alignment between p-type silicon and ITO was observed, and their ohmic properties were enhanced in the proper condition of deposition. To investigate cause of this improvement, spectroscopic ellipsometry and ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy were utilized. Using these techniques, band alignment and defect in the band gap were examined. The major materials of the interfacial layer are vanadium oxide and tungsten oxide, which are notable as a hole transfer layer in the organic solar cells. Finally, the interfacial layer was applied to silicon solar cells to see the actual behavior of carriers in the solar cells. In the case of vanadium oxide, we found 10% of improvement of photoelectric conversion efficiencies, compared to solar cells without interfacial layers.