Abstract: Methods for forming a photovoltaic device include adjusting a deposition power for depositing a buffer layer including germanium on a transparent electrode. The deposition power is configured to improve device efficiency. A p-type layer is formed on the buffer layer. An intrinsic layer and an n-type layer are formed over the p-type layer.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a photovoltaic device includes depositing a p-type layer at a first temperature and depositing an intrinsic layer while gradually increasing a deposition temperature to a final temperature. The intrinsic layer deposition is completed at the final temperature. An n-type layer is formed on the intrinsic layer.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a substrate and a plurality of particles anchored to the substrate. An electrode material is formed over the particles and configured to form peaks over the particles. One or more operational layers are fog led over the electrode material for performing a device function.

Abstract: A method of making a semiconductor device, includes providing a graphene sheet, creating a plurality of nanoholes in the graphene sheet to form a graphene nanomesh, the graphene nanomesh including a plurality of carbon atoms which are formed adjacent to the plurality of nanoholes, passivating a dangling bond on the plurality of carbon atoms by bonding a passivating element to the plurality of carbon atoms, and doping the passivated graphene nanomesh by bonding a dopant to the passivating element.

Abstract: A device and method for reducing degradation in a photovoltaic device includes adjusting a band offset of the device during one or more of forming an electrode, forming a first doped layer or forming an intrinsic layer. The adjusting reduces a band offset between one or more of the electrode, the first doped layer and the intrinsic layer to reduce light-induced degradation of the device. A second doped layer is formed on the intrinsic layer.

Abstract: A photovoltaic device and method for fabricating a photovoltaic device include forming a light-absorbing semiconductor structure on a transmissive substrate including a first doped layer and forming an intrinsic layer on the first doped layer, wherein the intrinsic layer includes an amorphous material. The intrinsic layer is treated with a plasma to form seed sites. A first tunnel junction layer is formed on the intrinsic layer by growing microcrystals from the seed sites.

Abstract: A photovoltaic device and method for fabricating a photovoltaic device include forming a light-absorbing semiconductor structure on a transmissive substrate including a first doped layer and forming an intrinsic layer on the first doped layer, wherein the intrinsic layer includes an amorphous material. The intrinsic layer is treated with a plasma to form seed sites. A first tunnel junction layer is formed on the intrinsic layer by growing microcrystals from the seed sites.

Abstract: A p-doped semiconductor layer of a photovoltaic device is formed employing an inert gas within a carrier gas. The presence of the inert gas within the carrier gas increases free hole density within the p-doped semiconductor layer. This decreases the Schottky barrier at an interface with a transparent conductive material layer, thereby significantly reducing the series resistance of the photovoltaic device. The reduction of the series resistance increases the open-circuit voltage, the fill factor, and the efficiency of the photovoltaic device. This effect is more prominent if the p-doped semiconductor layer is also doped with carbon, and has a band gap greater than 1.85V. The p-doped semiconductor material of the p-doped semiconductor layer can be hydrogenated if the carrier gas includes a mix of H2 and the inert gas.

Abstract: A method of producing a photovoltaic device includes providing a stretchable substrate for the photovoltaic device; and stretching the substrate to produce a stretched substrate. The method further includes depositing a structure comprising hydrogenated amorphous silicon onto the stretched substrate; and subjecting the deposited hydrogenated amorphous silicon structure and the stretched substrate to a compressive force to form a compressively strained photovoltaic device.

Abstract: Fabrication of a tandem photovoltaic device includes forming a bottom cell having an N-type layer, a P-type layer and a bottom intrinsic layer therebetween. A top cell is formed relative to the bottom cell. The top cell has an N-type layer, a P-type layer and a top intrinsic layer therebetween. The top intrinsic layer is formed of an undoped material deposited at a temperature that is different from the bottom intrinsic layer such that band gap energies for the top intrinsic layer and the bottom intrinsic layer are progressively lower for each cell.

Abstract: A hydrogenated thin film is formed in a controlled vacuum on a substrate by evaporating one or more solid materials and passing the resulting vapor and a hydrogen-containing gas into a space between two electrodes. One of the electrodes includes openings for allowing the vapor to enter the space. Plasma is generated within the space to cause dissociation of the hydrogen-containing gas and promote a reaction between the material(s) and hydrogen-containing gas.

Abstract: A germanium-containing layer is provided between a p-doped silicon-containing layer and a transparent conductive material layer of a photovoltaic device. The germanium-containing layer can be a p-doped silicon-germanium alloy layer or a germanium layer. The germanium-containing layer has a greater atomic concentration of germanium than the p-doped silicon-containing layer. The presence of the germanium-containing layer has the effect of reducing the series resistance and increasing the shunt resistance of the photovoltaic device, thereby increasing the fill factor and the efficiency of the photovoltaic device. In case a silicon-germanium alloy layer is employed, the closed circuit current density also increases.

Abstract: A Schottky-barrier-reducing layer is provided between a p-doped semiconductor layer and a transparent conductive material layer of a photovoltaic device. The Schottky-barrier-reducing layer can be a conductive material layer having a work function that is greater than the work function of the transparent conductive material layer. The conductive material layer can be a carbon-material layer such as a carbon nanotube layer or a graphene layer. Alternately, the conductive material layer can be another transparent conductive material layer having a greater work function than the transparent conductive material layer. The reduction of the Schottky barrier reduces the contact resistance across the transparent material layer and the p-doped semiconductor layer, thereby reducing the series resistance and increasing the efficiency of the photovoltaic device.

Abstract: A p-doped semiconductor layer of a photovoltaic device is formed employing an inert gas within a carrier gas. The presence of the inert gas within the carrier gas increases free hole density within the p-doped semiconductor layer. This decreases the Schottky barrier at an interface with a transparent conductive material layer, thereby significantly reducing the series resistance of the photovoltaic device. The reduction of the series resistance increases the open-circuit voltage, the fill factor, and the efficiency of the photovoltaic device. This effect is more prominent if the p-doped semiconductor layer is also doped with carbon, and has a band gap greater than 1.85V. The p-doped semiconductor material of the p-doped semiconductor layer can be hydrogenated if the carrier gas includes a mix of H2 and the inert gas.

Abstract: A photovoltaic device and method include a doped transparent electrode, and a light-absorbing semiconductor structure including a first semiconductor layer. An ultra-thin layer of a non-transparent metal is formed between the transparent electrode and the first semiconductor layer to form a reduced barrier contact wherein the ultra-thin layer is light transmissive. When the ultrathin metal forms discrete individual dots, it permits a plasmonic light trapping effect to increase the current at solar cells.