Passivation ability of graphene oxide demonstrated by two-different-metal solar cells.

Wen-Tzu Hsu,Jenn-Ming Song,Liang-Chun Chen,Mei-Hsin Chen,Guan-Yu Chen,Chun-Chieh Lin,Zong-Sian Tsai,Chu-Hsuan Lin

doi:10.1186/1556-276x-9-696

Wen-Tzu Hsu, Jenn-Ming Song + Show 6 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/1556-276x-9-696

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Abstract

The study on graphene oxide (GO) grows rapidly in recent years. We find that graphene oxide could act as the passivation material in photovoltaic applications. Graphene oxide has been applied on Si two-different-metal solar cells. The suitable introduction of graphene oxide could result in obvious enhancement on the efficiency. The simple chemical process to deposit graphene oxide makes low thermal budget, large-area deposition, and fast production of surface passivation possible. The different procedures to incorporate graphene oxide in Si two-different-metal solar cells are compared, and 21% enhancement on the efficiency is possible with a suitable deposition method.

Highlights

Energy from solar cells has been thought as the possible alternative to the traditional fuel energy
Since various oxide materials have been used for passivation of solar cells, we would like to investigate the effect of graphene oxide (GO) as the passivation layer
A two-different-metal structure for solar cells [13] was used in this study, because it could be fabricated in the laboratory and the passivation effect could be singly investigated on the side without electrodes

Summary

Background

Energy from solar cells has been thought as the possible alternative to the traditional fuel energy. In order to compete with the traditional energy, increase on the efficiency of solar cells in a cost-effective way is important. Surface structures [1,2,3] and passivation [4-7] can be utilized to improve the efficiency. The high-quality SiO2 is common oxide for surface passivation of Si solar cells. Al2O3 prepared by atomic layer deposition is used due to its promising ability of passivation for Si, especially for the p-type Si. Since various oxide materials have been used for passivation of solar cells, we would like to investigate the effect of graphene oxide (GO) as the passivation layer. To the best of our knowledge, GO has not been utilized on the applications of solar cell passivation. The chemical solution method makes the low thermal budget, large-area deposition, and fast production possible

Methods

Results and discussion

Conclusions