Improved performance in GaInNAs solar cells by hydrogen passivation

The effect of UV-activated hydrogenation on the performance of GaInNAs solar cells is presented. A proof-of-principle investigation was performed on non-optimum GaInNAs cells, which allowed a clearer investigation of the role of passivation on the intrinsic nitrogen-related defects in these material...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Applied physics letters 2015-04, Vol.106 (14)
Main Authors: Fukuda, M., Whiteside, V. R., Keay, J. C., Meleco, A., Sellers, I. R., Hossain, K., Golding, T. D., Leroux, M., Al Khalfioui, M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Applied physics
CHARGE CARRIERS
Circuits
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
CURRENT DENSITY
GALLIUM ARSENIDES
Hydrogen storage
HYDROGENATION
INDIUM NITRIDES
LUMINESCENCE
NITROGEN
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
PASSIVATION
Passivity
Photovoltaic cells
PHOTOVOLTAIC EFFECT
QUANTUM EFFICIENCY
Reference materials
Short circuit currents
SOLAR CELLS
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE
ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:The effect of UV-activated hydrogenation on the performance of GaInNAs solar cells is presented. A proof-of-principle investigation was performed on non-optimum GaInNAs cells, which allowed a clearer investigation of the role of passivation on the intrinsic nitrogen-related defects in these materials. Upon optimized hydrogenation of GaInNAs, a significant reduction in the presence of defect and impurity based luminescence is observed as compared to that of unpassivated reference material. This improvement in the optical properties is directly transferred to an improved performance in solar cell operation, with a more than two-fold improvement in the external quantum efficiency and short circuit current density upon hydrogenation. Temperature dependent photovoltaic measurements indicate a strong contribution of carrier localization and detrapping processes, with non-radiative processes dominating in the reference materials, and evidence for additional strong radiative losses in the hydrogenated solar cells.
ISSN:0003-6951
1077-3118
DOI:10.1063/1.4916668