Mechanisms of (NH 4) 2S x-treated III-V compound triple-junction solar cells incorporating with hybrid electrode

Abstract

A hybrid electrode composed of the metal contact pads and the transparent indium-tin-oxide film was incorporated with the (NH 4) 2S x-treated InGaP/InGaAs/Ge triple-junction solar cells. The hybrid electrode structure was used to reduce the metal shadow area. The passivation function enabled by the (NH 4) 2S x surface treatment was used to enhance the photoluminescence intensity and carrier lifetime of the (NH 4) 2S x-treated n-type AlInP window layer. The conversion efficiency of (NH 4) 2S x-treated solar cells with the hybrid electrode structure was improved up to 35.73 due to an increase in the absorption of the incident light along with the surface passivation. © 2012 American Institute of Physics.