Amorphous and Microcrystalline Silicon Solar Cells: Modeling, Materials and Device Technology

This volume provides a comprehensive overview of materials for application in thin film solar cells. It compares experimental and computer-modelling methods, combining the state of the art in technology with insights in device modelling. A wide range of experimental issues are explored, from materials and basic device physics of thin film solar cells to potential mass production facilities for solar panels. The modelling section presents an approach to integrated optical and electrical modelling of complete devices, including optical light trapping, and describes the physical materials parameters related to amorphous silicon that are crucial for successful modelling. The increasing importance of multijunction cells with different bandgap components for thin film silicon cells is reflected in a description of the latest breakthroughs acquired experimentally and by modelling. Concluding chapters describe what can be learned from combined modelling and device fabrication, indicating potential future methods of amorphous silicon solar cell optimization. This book should prove valuable to researchers in the amorphous and microcrystalline silicon field and the physical and experimental approaches will be of interest to researchers investigating solar cells or other film devices for large area applications.