EP4Tutorial

Silicon and related thin films are widely used in solar cells and other electronic devices. The tutorial will introduce device preparation methods, materials properties, fundamental silicon surface chemistry, and device engineering. While the emphasis will be on silicon-related thin films and nanoscale structures, the fundamentals apply to other related materials as well. The presentations will survey several important chemical vapor deposition (CVD) techniques, including RF and VHF plasma-enhanced (PE), and hot-wire (HW) or Cat CVD. The techniques produce useful films ranging in structure from amorphous to nanocrystalline to polycrystalline. Thin-film solar cells and heterojunction solar cells based on crystalline silicon will be surveyed. A special emphasis will be placed on ultrahigh efficiency silicon solar cell designs, including silicon-based tandem solar cells and the role and properties of thin-film passivation layers (such as nitride, alumina, a-Si:H). In this context, silicon heterojunction cells and passivated-contact solar cells will also be presented in detail. In conclusion, the tutorial will discuss the growth and characterization of silicon nanostructures and their potential applications in energy conversion and storage. 

Part I: Sumit Agarwal
Si Growth, Surface Chemistry, and Functionalization

Part II: Stefaan De Wolf
Basics of High-Efficiency Si Solar Cells

Part III: Sumit Agarwal
Thin Films for Si Solar Cells

Part IV: Stefaan De Wolf
Growth and Properties of Passivation Layers for Si Solar Cells

Part V: Stefaan De Wolf
Design, Materials, and Processes of Si Heterojunction Solar Cells

Part VI: Sumit Agarwal
Growth and Characterization of Si Nanostructures


Instructors
Stefaan De Wolf, EPFL
Sumit Agarwal, Colorado School of Mines