Solar Cells from Thin Silicon Layers on AlN

Abstract

Polycrystalline silicon layers were grown on AlN ceramic substrates in a rapid thermal chemical vapor deposition system at high temperature (~1150°C). Larger columnar grains, > 5µm in size, were obtained by the zone melting recrystallization (ZMR) technique. The p-n junction is formed by a phosphorous diffusion process to make a solar cell. Solar cell devices based on this Si layer result possess an open-circuit voltage of about 0.17V and a short-circuit current of about 6.6mA/cm2.