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Electrochemical Deposition of Transparent Conducting Oxides for Photovoltaic Applications

Attygalle, Dinesh
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1229464154

Abstract Details

2008, Doctor of Philosophy, University of Toledo, Physics.
Textured back reflector (BR) is an essential component used in substrate type solar cells for light trapping, which enhances the long wavelength absorption. Most commonly used BR consists of a reflecting metal layer(s) of Ag and/or Al and a transparent conducting oxide (TCO) layer such as ZnO. This type of BR, if properly textured, can lead to about 20% increase in the short-circuit current and cell efficiency. A widely used technique for producing the BR is sputtering due to its simplicity and easy operation for large area thin film solar cell applications. The TCO layer needs to be thick enough (>500 nm) to reach a textured structure and to prevent the metal in the BR from diffusing into the solar cell layers. Thus, the ZnO deposition becomes the bottleneck in the BR process. Significant efforts have been putting on developing novel techniques that can produce ZnO coatings with better texture and high deposition rate. To address the above issue electrodeposition was employed to coat ZnO film, because it gives high deposition rate at low cost. A systematic study of conventional electrodeposition was performed. Further improvements for the electrodeposition process have done to eliminate some of the problems associated with conventional electrodeposition. In addition highly textured BR produced by electrodeposited ZnO changes the electrical structure of the device. The necessity to consider these factors when fabricating solar cells on highly textured BR was emphasized using PVOPTICS and AMPS modeling.Hydrogen is considered to be the fuel of the future. Subsequently there are many attempts of generating H2 by environmentally friendly means. One such proposed system is photo-electrochemical cell (PEC) consist of transparent conducting corrosion resistive (TCCR) layer, a-Si:H solar cell and catalytic layer. The research work done to identify the potential TCCR layers and fabrication of porous nickel catalyst layer will be discussed.
Xunming Deng, PhD (Advisor)
Robert W. Collins, PhD (Committee Member)
Song Cheng, PhD (Committee Member)
Sanjey V. Khare, PhD (Committee Member)
Ahalapitiya H. Jayatissa, PhD (Committee Member)
118 p.
Physics
Photovoltaics; amorphous silicon; solar cells; back reflector; ZnO; electrodeposition; hydrogen generation; TCCR; hydrogen catalyst

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Attygalle, D. (2008). Electrochemical Deposition of Transparent Conducting Oxides for Photovoltaic Applications [Doctoral dissertation, University of Toledo]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1229464154

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Attygalle, Dinesh. Electrochemical Deposition of Transparent Conducting Oxides for Photovoltaic Applications. 2008. University of Toledo, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1229464154.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Attygalle, Dinesh. "Electrochemical Deposition of Transparent Conducting Oxides for Photovoltaic Applications." Doctoral dissertation, University of Toledo, 2008. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1229464154

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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This open access ETD is published by University of Toledo and OhioLINK.