Material basis of highly stable a-Si:H solar cells

We achieved a stabilized efficiency of 9.2% after only 8% relative degradation for an a-Si:H/a-Si:H stacked cell with the top-cell i-layer prepared at 140 degrees C using a high hydrogen dilution of the silane process gas. From a comprehensive characterization of p-i-n cells and the corresponding i-layer material prepared at 140 degrees C and 190 degrees C substrate temperature with different hydrogen dilutions, we conclude that the performance of these pin cells strongly correlates with the material properties of the corresponding i-layers. High fill factors after light soaking are reflected in a good microstructure, high photo-conductivity, and relatively low defect density. Whereas the initial V-oc is limited by interface recombination, volume recombination dominates the forward-dark current after light soaking. The stabilized V-oc as well as the short-circuit current densities correlate with the optical bandgap of the i-layer.