Hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) thin films have been considered for use in solar cell applications because of their significantly reduced cost. Their overall efficiency and stability, however, are less than that of their bulk crystalline counterparts. Limited work has been performed on solving the efficiency and stability issues of a-Si:H simultaneously. In this study, both surface texturing and crystallization on a-Si:H thin film are achieved through one-step femtosecond laser processing. The nanoscale conical and pillar-shaped spikes formed on the surface of a-Si:H films by femtosecond laser irradiation in both air and water are presented and enhanced light absorption is observed due to light trapping based on surface geometry changes, while the formation of a mixture of hydrogenated nanocrystalline silicon (nc-Si:H) and a-Si:H after crystallization suggests that the overall material stability can potentially be increased. The relationship among crystallinity, fluence, and scan speed is also discussed. Furthermore, a comparison of absorptance spectra for various surface morphologies is developed. Finally, the absorptance measurement across the solar spectrum shows that the combination of surface texturing and crystallization induced by femtosecond laser processing is very promising for a-Si:H thin film solar cell applications.
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June 2012
Research Papers
Femtosecond Laser-Induced Simultaneous Surface Texturing and Crystallization of a-Si:H Thin Film: Absorption and Crystallinity Available to Purchase
Hongliang Wang,
Hongliang Wang
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University
, New York, NY 10027
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Panjawat Kongsuwan,
Panjawat Kongsuwan
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University
, New York, NY 10027
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Gen Satoh,
Gen Satoh
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University
, New York, NY 10027
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Y. Lawrence Yao
Y. Lawrence Yao
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University
, New York, NY 10027
Search for other works by this author on:
Hongliang Wang
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University
, New York, NY 10027
Panjawat Kongsuwan
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University
, New York, NY 10027
Gen Satoh
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University
, New York, NY 10027
Y. Lawrence Yao
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University
, New York, NY 10027J. Manuf. Sci. Eng. Jun 2012, 134(3): 031006 (10 pages)
Published Online: May 7, 2012
Article history
Received:
November 4, 2010
Revised:
March 27, 2012
Published:
May 4, 2012
Online:
May 7, 2012
Citation
Wang, H., Kongsuwan, P., Satoh, G., and Lawrence Yao, Y. (May 7, 2012). "Femtosecond Laser-Induced Simultaneous Surface Texturing and Crystallization of a-Si:H Thin Film: Absorption and Crystallinity." ASME. J. Manuf. Sci. Eng. June 2012; 134(3): 031006. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4006548
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