Characterization and assessment of a novel hybrid organic/inorganic metal-insulator-semiconductor structure for photovoltaic applications

Svetlana Demtchenko; Steven McGarry; Peter Gordon; Sean Barry; N. Garry Tarr

doi:10.1117/12.871360

22 September 2010 Characterization and assessment of a novel hybrid organic/inorganic metal-insulator-semiconductor structure for photovoltaic applications

Svetlana Demtchenko, Steven McGarry, Peter Gordon, Sean Barry, N. Garry Tarr

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 7750, Photonics North 2010; 77502Y (2010) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.871360
Event: Photonics North 2010, 2010, Niagara Falls, Canada

Abstract

Hybrid organic/inorganic photovoltaic devices have recently emerged as a possible solution to the stability, charge transfer and mobility issues that have been limiting the lifetimes and efficiencies of the organic solar cells. The purpose of the project presented here is to assess the potential of a new hybrid metal-insulator-semiconductor (MIS) photovoltaic device design developed at Carleton University. The silicon substrate is nanostructured with a wet chemical etch resulting in about 1:1 aspect ratio structures of roughly 300nm in size. The interface is passivated with a thin dielectric tunnel barrier of alumina or silica. A layer of transparent conducting polymer, Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT), is added through in-situ polymerization. The structure is then completed with a printed silver/polymer composite collection electrode. The electrical current-voltage (I-V) and capacitance-voltage(C-V) characteristics along with the effect of nanostructuring the substrate on the performance of such a solar cell is explored by comparison with unstructured devices. The C-V and I-V measurements are used to estimate changes in the effective device junction due to the structuring. The quality of the insulator layer as well as its optimal thickness are studied. The fabricated structures show photovoltaic behavior with the structuring yielding a significant increase in efficiency. The test structures show promise for the use in photovoltaics and further optimization of such a structure may yield fruitful results in solar applications.

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Svetlana Demtchenko, Steven McGarry, Peter Gordon, Sean Barry, and N. Garry Tarr "Characterization and assessment of a novel hybrid organic/inorganic metal-insulator-semiconductor structure for photovoltaic applications", Proc. SPIE 7750, Photonics North 2010, 77502Y (22 September 2010); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.871360

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