• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2014.02a
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• pp.322.1-322.1
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• 2014

Many research groups have studied tandem or multi-junction cells to overcome this low efficiency and degradation. In multi-junction cells, band-gap engineering of each absorb layer is needed to absorb the light at various wavelengths efficiently. Various absorption layers can be formed using multi-junctions, such as hydrogenated amorphous silicon carbide (a-SiC:H), amorphous silicon germanium (a-SiGe:H) and microcrystalline silicon (${\mu}c$-Si:H), etc. Among them, ${\mu}c$-Si:H is the bottom absorber material because it has a low band-gap and does not exhibit light-induced degradation like amorphous silicon. Nevertheless, ${\mu}c$-Si:H requires a much thicker material (>2 mm) to absorb sufficient light due to its smaller light absorption coefficient, highlighting the need for a high growth rate for productivity. ${\mu}c$-SiGe:H has a much higher absorption coefficient than ${\mu}c$-Si:H at the low energy wavelength, meaning that the thickness of the absorption layer can be decreased to less than half that of ${\mu}c$-Si:H. ${\mu}c$-SiGe:H films were prepared using 40 MHz very high frequency PECVD method at 1 Torr. SiH4 and GeH4 were used as a reactive gas and H2 was used as a dilution gas. In this study, the ${\mu}c$-SiGe:H layer for triple solar cells applications was performed to optimize the film properties.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers P
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• v.61 no.2
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• pp.97-102
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• 2012

CPV system in the desert areas or areas near the equator, as is suitable for high-temperature region. As compared to silicon solar cells, CPV system have a high proportion of a BOS (balance of system). Solar cells because of its low proportion when designing a module technology is applied in a variety of ways. Applied to the CPV system is classified into two kinds of optical technology. One of those using fresnel lens uses refraction of light energy. The other is a mirror reflection of the structure using sprays. Both of these two ways to condense the sun to collect solar cell is a form of light. And goals by using a small solar cell materials is to produce more energy. In this paper, suitable for a domestic environment, with the aim CPV Manufacturing Technology, built on a variety of modular process technology to the development of a prototype performance analysis was carried out. In particular, silicone coated on the glass by the method of implementation of the Fresnel lens SOG(Silicon on glass) by applying the lens to absorb the solar spectrum was broad. In addition to, for the analyze to characteristics of the CPV module, developed CPV module performance and generating characteristics studied. These related technology through research and development of high-performance multi-junction solar cells, modules, development of concentrating solar power systems to facilitate the growth of the market is considered to be.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.20 no.11
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• pp.586-591
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• 2010

Solar cells have been more intensely studied as part of the effort to find alternatives to fossil fuels as power sources. The progression of the first two generations of solar cells has seen a sacrifice of higher efficiency for more economic use of materials. The use of a single junction makes both these types of cells lose power in two major ways: by the non-absorption of incident light of energy below the band gap; and by the dissipation by heat loss of light energy in excess of the band gap. Therefore, multi junction solar cells have been proposed as a solution to this problem. However, the $1^{st}$ and $2^{nd}$ generation solar cells have efficiency limits because a photon makes just one electron-hole pair. Fabrication of all-silicon tandem cells using an Si quantum dot superlattice structure (QD SLS) is one possible suggestion. In this study, an $SiO_x$ matrix system was investigated and analyzed for potential use as an all-silicon multi-junction solar cell. Si quantum dots with a super lattice structure (Si QD SLS) were prepared by alternating deposition of Si rich oxide (SRO; $SiO_x$ (x = 0.8, 1.12)) and $SiO_2$ layers using RF magnetron co-sputtering and subsequent annealing at temperatures between 800 and $1,100^{\circ}C$ under nitrogen ambient. Annealing temperatures and times affected the formation of Si QDs in the SRO film. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectra and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) revealed that nanocrystalline Si QDs started to precipitate after annealing at $1,100^{\circ}C$ for one hour. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images clearly showed SRO/$SiO_2$ SLS and Si QDs formation in each 4, 6, and 8 nm SRO layer after annealing at $1,100^{\circ}C$ for two hours. The systematic investigation of precipitation behavior of Si QDs in $SiO_2$ matrices is presented.

• New & Renewable Energy
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.68-73
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• 2008

It is very important that constitution of good hetero-junction interface with a high quality amorphous silicon thin films on very cleaned c-Si wafer for making high efficiency hetero-junction solar cells. For achieving the high efficiency solar cells, the inspection and management of c-Si wafer surface conditions are essential subjects. In this experiment, we analyzed the c-Si wafer surface very sensitively using Spectroscopic Ellipsometer for < ${\varepsilon}2$ > and u-PCD for effective carrier life time, so we accomplished < ${\varepsilon}2$ > value 43.02 at 4.25eV by optimizing the cleaning process which is representative of c-Si wafer surface conditions very well. We carried out that the deposition of high quality hydrogenated silicon amorphous thin films by RF-PECVD systems having high density and low crystallinity which are results of effective medium approximation modeling and fitting using spectroscopic ellipsometer. We reached the cell efficiency 12.67% and 14.30% on flat and textured CZ c-Si wafer each under AM1.5G irradiation, adopting the optimized cleaning and deposition conditions that we made. As a result, we confirmed that spectroscopic ellipsometry is very useful analyzing methode for hetero-junction solar cells which need to very thin and high quality multi layer structure.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2016.02a
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• pp.147.2-148
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• 2016

Light management technology is very important for thin film solar cells, which can reduce optical reflection from the surface of thin film solar cells or enhance optical path, increasing the absorption of the incident solar light. Using proper light trapping structures in hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) solar cells, the thickness of absorber layers can be reduced. Instead, the internal electric field in the absorber can be strengthened, which helps to collect photon generated carriers very effectively and to reduce light-induced loss under long-term light exposure. In this work, we introduced a chemical etching technology to make honey-comb textures on glass substrates and analyzed the optical properties for the textured surface such as transmission, reflection and scattering effects. Using ray optics and finite difference time domain method (FDTD) we represented the behaviors of light waves near the etched surfaces of the glass substrates and discussed to obtain haze parameters for the different honey-comb structures. The simulation results showed that high haze values were maintained up to the long wavelength range over 700 nm, and with the proper design of the honey-comb structure, reflection or transmission of the glass substrates can be enhanced, which will be very useful for the multi-junction (tandem or triple junction) thin film a-Si:H solar cells.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2014.02a
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• pp.320-320
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• 2014

Amorphous silicon alloy (a-Si) solar cells and modules have been receiving a great deal of attention as a low-cost alternate energy source for large-scale terrestrial applications. Key to the achievement of high-efficiency solar cells using the multi-junction approach is the development of high quality, low band-gap materials which can capture the low-energy photons of the solar spectrum. Several cell designs have been reported in the past where grading or buffer layers have been incorporated at the junction interface to reduce carrier recombination near the junction. We have investigated profiling the composition of the a-SiGe alloy throughout the bulk of the intrinsic material so as to have a built-in electrical field in a substantial portion of the intrinsic material. As a result, the band gap mismatch between a-Si:H and $a-Si_{1-x}Ge_x:H$ creates a barrier for carrier transport. Previous reports have proposed a graded band gap structure in the absorber layer not only effectively increases the short wavelength absorption near the p/i interface, but also enhances the hole transport near the i-n interface. Here, we modulated the GeH4 flow rate to control the band gap to be graded from 1.75 eV (a-Si:H) to 1.55 eV ($a-Si_{1-x}Ge_x:H$). The band structure in the absorber layer thus became like a U-shape in which the lowest band gap was located in the middle of the i-layer. Incorporation of this structure in the middle and top cell of the triple-cell configuration is expected to increase the conversion efficiency further.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2007.11a
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• pp.68-69
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• 2007

To make cost-effective solar cells, We have to use low cost material or make short process time or high temperature process. In solar cells, formation of emitter is basic and important technique according to build-up P-N junction. Diffusion process using spin-on dopants has all of this advantage. In this paper, We investigated n+ emitter formation spin-on dopants to apply crystalline silicon solar cells. We known variation of sheet resistance according to variation of temperature and single-crystalline and multi-crystalline silicon wafer using Honeywell P-8545 phosphorus spin-on dopants. We obtain uniformity of sheet resistance within 3~5% changing RPM of spin coater.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.37 no.10
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• pp.1017-1026
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• 2009

The solar cell system operates by facing the sun-light. Minor cracks, static discharge, and thermal shock that can happen during production/testing phase can lead to degradation in performance during operation, since solar cells are exposed to extreme thermal/mechanical environment in space. In order to detect small cracks and internal damages in the solar cells due to thermal shocks, which are the core units of a solar cell system, expensive equipment, complicated test process, and much time are required. Therefore, a qualitative method for easily and quickly testing the 'health' of solar cell functionality is required. This dissertation describes a theoretical and technical grounds for quickly and easily evaluating the health of solar cells using electroluminescence effect of Gallium-Arsenide solar cells that are most widely used by spacecrafts in recent years. Also described in the dissertation is the technical issues and constraining factors for applying the proposed method to actual space-rated solar cell systems.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.310-316
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• 2021

Conventional satellites are generally large satellites that are multi-functional and have high performance. However, small satellites have been gradually drawing attention since the recent development of lightweight and integrated electric, electronic, and optical technologies. As the size and weight of a satellite decrease, the barrier to satellite development is becoming lower due to the cost of manufacture and cheaper launch. However, solar panels are essential for the power supply of satellites but have limitations in miniaturization and weight reduction because they require a large surface area to be efficiently exposed to sunlight. Space solar cells must be manufactured in consideration of various space environments such as spacecraft and environments with solar thermal temperatures. It is necessary to study structural materials for lightweight and high-efficiency solar cells by applying an unfolding mechanism that optimizes the surface-to-volume ratio. Currently, most products are developed and operated as solar cell panels for space applications with a triple-junction structure of InGaP/GaAs/Ge materials for high efficiency. Furthermore, multi-layered junctions have been studied for ultra-high-efficiency solar cells. Flexible thin-film solar cells and organic-inorganic hybrid solar cells are advantageous for material weight reduction and are attracting attention as next-generation solar cells for small satellites.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2010.06a
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• pp.62.2-62.2
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• 2010

박막 실리콘 태양 전지는 저가격화 및 대량생산, 대면적화에 유리하다는 장점을 가지고 있다. 단점으로 지적되는 낮은 효율을 극복하기 위해 광흡수층의 밴드갭이 서로 다른 두 개 이상의 박막을 적층하여, 넓은 파장 대역의 빛을 효과적으로 흡수함으로써 광변환 효율을 올리기 위한 많은 연구가 이루어지고 있다. 서로 다른 밴드갭의 광흡수층을 가진 p-i-n 구조를 다중 적층하여 고효율의 태양 전지를 제작하기 위해서는 n-도핑층과, p-도핑층 간에 전자와 정공이 빠르게 재결합할 수 있는 터널 접합(Tunnel Recombination Junction)의 형성이 필수적이며, 이때 광손실이 최소화되도록 해야한다. 만약 터널 접합이 적절하게 형성되지 않으면 결합되지 않은 전자와 정공이 도핑층 사이에 쌓이게 되고, 도핑층 사이의 저항 증가로 태양 전지의 광변환 효율은 크게 하락한다. 이번 연구에서는 터널 접합이 잘 이루어지게 하기 위한 n-도핑층 및 p-도핑층 박막의 특성과, 터널 접합의 특성에 따른 적층형 태양 전지의 광효율 변화를 확인하였다. 광흡수층 및 도핑층은 TCO($SnO_2:F$, Asahi) 유리 기판 위에 PECVD를 사용하여 p-i-n 구조로 RF Power 조건에서 증착되었고, ${\mu}c$-Si 광흡수층의 경우에는 VHF Power 조건에서 증착되었다. 광흡수층이 a-Si/${\mu}c$-Si의 구조를 가지는 이중 접합 태양 전지에서 ${\mu}c$-Si n-도핑층/${\mu}c$-Si p-도핑층 사이의 터널 접합 실험 결과 n-도핑층 및 p-도핑층의 결정화도와 도핑 농도를 조절하여 터널 접합의 저항을 최소화했고, 터널 접합 특성이 이중 접합 셀의 광효율 특성과 유사한 경향을 보임을 확인하였다. 광흡수층이 a-Si/a-SiGe/${\mu}c$-Si의 구조를 가지는 삼중 접합 태양 전지 실험의 경우 a-Si과 a-SiGe 광흡수층 사이에 ${\mu}c$-Si n-도핑층/${\mu}c$-Si p-도핑층/a-SiC p-도핑층의 구조를 적용하여 터널 접합을 형성하였으며, ${\mu}c$-Si p-도핑층의 두께 및 박막 특성을 개선하여 광손실이 최소화된 터널 접합을 구현하였고, 삼중 접합 태양 전지에 적용되었다.