Aluminum oxide n Si field effect inversion layer solar cells with organic top contact

Abstract

We demonstrate a novel type of solar cell, one that uses fixed negative charges, formed at the interface of n-Si with Al2O3, to generate strong inversion at the Si surface by electrostatic repulsion. Built-in voltages of up to 755 mV are found at this interface. To be able to harness this large built-in voltage, we demonstrate a new photovoltaic device concept, where the photocurrent, generated in this inversion layer, is extracted via an inversion layer induced by a high work function PEDOT:PSS top contact, deposited on top of a passivating and dipole-inducing molecular monolayer. Results of the effect of the molecular monolayer on device performance yield open-circuit voltages of up to 550 mV for moderately doped Si, demonstrating the effectiveness of this contact structure in removing the Fermi level pinning that has hindered past efforts in developing this type of solar cell with n-type Si.