Single step route to highly transparent, conductive and hazy aluminium doped zinc oxide films.

Jianwei Li,Sanjayan Sathasivam,Ivan P Parkin,Alaric Taylor,Claire J Carmalt

doi:10.1039/c8ra09338e

Jianwei Li, Sanjayan Sathasivam + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.1039/c8ra09338e

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Abstract

Light scattering yet transparent electrodes are important for photovoltaics as they increase device efficiency by prolonging light path lengths. Here, we present a novel single step route to highly textured Al doped ZnO thin films on glass substrates that show a minimum resistivity of ∼3 × 10−3 Ω cm and high visible light transmittance of 83% while still maintaining high haze factor of 63%. Roughness was imparted into the ZnO films during the synthetic process using acetylacetone and deionized water as additives. The highly hazy yet visible and near infrared transparent nature of the conductive ZnO:Al films allow it to be potentially used as an electrode material in amorphous and microcrystalline silicon solar cells.

Highlights

Transparent conducting oxides (TCOs) are a special class of materials that combine low electrical resistivity (80%) and are used as electrodes in photovoltaics and touch screen displays.[1]
Experimental work carried out by Sai et al showed that in a p–i– n and n–i–p microcrystalline silicon (mc-Si):H device, having textured front and/or rear electrodes did result in a signi cant enhancement of light absorption in the visible and near infrared regions.[5]
We present a novel single step synthetic route via aerosolassisted chemical vapor deposition (AACVD) by utilizing a combination of additives and dopants to generate highly textured ZnO:Al thin lms processing both favorable electrical conductivity and optical properties

Summary

Introduction

Transparent conducting oxides (TCOs) are a special class of materials that combine low electrical resistivity (80%) and are used as electrodes in photovoltaics and touch screen displays.[1]. We present a novel single step synthetic route via AACVD by utilizing a combination of additives and dopants to generate highly textured ZnO:Al thin lms processing both favorable electrical conductivity (minimum resistivity $3 Â 10À3 U cm with a thickness of 780 nm) and optical properties (average transmittance and haze factor, inclusive of the silica coated oat glass substrate, of 83.8% and 63% respectively across the visible spectrum including).

Results

Conclusion