Protocrystalline silicon solar cells on transparent plastic substrates

Here, we have investigated fabrication of thin film silicon p-i-n solar cells at low substrate temperatures. The effect of silane diluted by hydrogen, in i-layer deposition process on the solar cell characteristics has been studied. Our results show that the material right at the phase transition from amorphous to microcrystalline shows a combination of the highest open circuit voltage and short circuit current. Using this material p-i-n solar cell fabricated on both glass and plastic substrates and the efficiencies of 4.7% and 3.99% have been obtained respectively.