THE INFLUENCE OF DIAMOND-LIKE CARBON-FILMS ON THE PROPERTIES OF SILICON SOLAR-CELLS

Amorphous diamond-like carbon films (a:DLC) were used as anti-reflecti ng coatings and as hard protecting materials for silicon solar cells. The dependence of a:DLC film thickness (t) on the short circuit curren t and on the efficiency of the solar cells was examined theoretically and experimentally. A good correlation exists between the experimental and theoretical values. A maximum efficiency of the solar cell was ob tained for t = 55 nm of the a:DLC film, corresponding to an improvemen t of the efficiency by 30%. These solar cells were also examined under mechanical abrasive conditions using a powder abrasive system. The pr operty of a:DLC films to protect solar cells was demonstrated. (C) 199 7 Elsevier Science S.A.