Degradation of transparent metal-insulator-semiconductor solar cells due to heating effects

All the output parameters of the metal-insulator-semiconductor solar cells are degraded after heating. Also the dark current and the non-ideality fact or are increased with heating. A reduction in the built-in potential has be en detected. The capacitance-voltage-frequency measurements indicate the pr esence of interface states. These states are heavily occupied by electrons. Heating will increase the density of these states and consequently reduce the barrier height and the overall cell efficiency. (C) 2001 Elsevier Scien ce Ltd. All rights reserved.