Flexible Protocrystalline Silicon Solar Cells with Amorphous Buffer Layer

A low deposition temperature of 110 °C is mandatory for directly growing amorphous-silicon-based solar cells on plastic foil. The optimum absorber material at this low temperature is protocrystalline, i.e., right at the transition between amorphous and crystalline silicon. Polyethylene terephtalate foil of 50 µm thickness form the substrate of our flexible p–i–n single-junction cells. We discuss three peculiar processing techniques for achieving the maximum photovoltaic conversion efficiency of flexible low-temperature solar cells. First, we employ an optimized microcrystalline silicon p-type window layer; second, we use protocrystalline silicon for the i-layer; third, we insert an undoped amorphous silicon buffer layer at the p/i interface. The best flexible cells attain power conversion efficiencies of up to 4.9%.