Electrochemical Texturing and Deposition of Conductive, Transparent Oxide Films for Silion Thin-Film Solar Cells

• Applicant: Dr. Sascha E. Pust
• Subject Area: Solid State and Surface Chemistry, Material Synthesis
• Term: from 2010 to 2013
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 172969985

The aim of this project is the development and optimization of an electrochemical texturing procedure for zinc oxide layers, which are used in thin-film silicon solar cells as front contact due to their light scattering properties, good electrical conductivity and good light incoupling behavior. This is crucial for a high efficiency in the solar cell. Both the electrochemical etching and the deposition of zinc oxide are to be investigated systematically in terms of applicability for this type of solar cell. For this purpose, established electrochemical methods known from literature in the context of other applications and new concepts are to be developed. The project will contribute significantly to an improved mechanistic understanding of the chemical etching and corrosion processes at sputter-deposited zinc oxide layers and thus show ways for targeted, selective texturing of these layers. After characterization of the layers and transfer of the acquired know how to substrate sizes up to (10x10) cm², they are to be tested directly in the solar cell.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Participating Persons: Professor Dr. Karl Mayrhofer; Professor Dr. Gunther Wittstock