journal article·2018-11-01Open access

Influence of the AlN interlayer thickness on the photovoltaic properties of in-rich AlInN on Si heterojunctions deposited by RF sputtering

S. Valdueza-Felip, A. Núñez-Cascajero, R. Blasco, D. Montero, L. Grenet, M. de la Mata, S. Fernández, L. Rodríguez-De Marcos, S. I. Molina, J. Olea, F. B. Naranjo

AIP Advances· Volume 8· Issue 11

Abstract

We report the influence of the AlN interlayer thickness (0-15 nm) on the photovoltaic properties of Al0.37In0.63N on Si heterojunction solar cells deposited by radio frequency sputtering. The poor junction band alignment and the presence of a 2-3 nm thick amorphous layer at the interface mitigates the response in devices fabricated by direct deposition of n-AlInN on p-Si(111). Adding a 4-nm-thick AlN buffer layer improves the AlInN crystalline quality and the interface alignment leading to devices with a conversion efficiency of 1.5% under 1-sun AM1.5G illumination. For thicker buffers the performance lessens due to inefficient tunnel transport through the AlN. These results demonstrate the feasibility of using In-rich AlInN alloys deposited by radio frequency sputtering as novel electron-selective contacts to Si-heterojunction solar cells.
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Research context

OpenAlex topics: GaN-based semiconductor devices and materials · Semiconductor Quantum Structures and Devices · Nanowire Synthesis and Applications

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

Photonics Engineering Group, University of Alcalá 1 , 28871 Alcalá de Henares, Spain

Applied Physics Dept. III, University Complutense of Madrid 2 , 28040 Madrid, Spain

CEA-Grenoble, LITEN, and University Grenoble Alpes 3 , 38000 Grenoble, France

Institute of Electron Microscopy and Materials, Dept. of Materials Science and I. M. and Q. I, Faculty of Sciences, University of Cádiz 4 , 11510 Puerto Real, Spain

Research Centre for Energy, Environment and Technology 5 , 28040 Madrid, Spain

Thin Film Optics Group, Optics Institute–CSIC 6 , 28006 Madrid, Spain

Funding

Ministry of Science and Innovation · University of Alcala

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