Influence of nanostructured ITO films on surface recombination processes in silicon solar cells

Abstract

This paper describes the results of comparative studies of illumination currentvoltage characteristics and spectral characteristics of silicon solar cells with rear location of the collector p-n-junction for the cases of non-passivated and passivated front illuminated surface. Passivation was performed by silicon dioxide layer or ITO layer. It was found that ITO layer surface passivation with formation of ITO/silicon heterojunction, unlike silicon dioxide layer passivation, leads to a significant reduction of the effective surface recombination velocity. It significantly increases the value of the internal quantum efficiency in the wavelength range from 550 to 1050 nm and, as a result, significantly increases the value of short-circuit current of solar cells.