Journal Article

FZJ-2017-02086

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Mechanical Properties of ZTO, ITO, and a-Si:H Multilayer Films for Flexible Thin Film Solar Cells

Hengst, C. (Corresponding author) ; Menzel, S. ; Rane, G. ; Smirnov, V.FZJ* ; Wilken, K.FZJ* ; Leszczynska, B. ; Fischer, D. ; Prager, N.

2017
MDPI Basel

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Please use a persistent id in citations: http://hdl.handle.net/2128/13923  doi:10.3390/ma10030245

Abstract: The behavior of bi- and trilayer coating systems for flexible a-Si:H based solar cells consisting of a barrier, an electrode, and an absorption layer is studied under mechanical load. First, the film morphology, stress, Young’s modulus, and crack onset strain (COS) were analyzed for single film coatings of various thickness on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrates. In order to demonstrate the role of the microstructure of a single film on the mechanical behavior of the whole multilayer coating, two sets of InSnOx (indium tin oxide, ITO) conductive coatings were prepared. Whereas a characteristic grain–subgrain structure was observed in ITO-1 films, grain growth was suppressed in ITO-2 films. ITO-1 bilayer coatings showed two-step failure under tensile load with cracks propagating along the ITO-1/a-Si:H-interface, whereas channeling cracks in comparable bi- and trilayers based on amorphous ITO-2 run through all constituent layers. A two-step failure is preferable from an application point of view, as it may lead to only a degradation of the performance instead of the ultimate failure of the device. Hence, the results demonstrate the importance of a fine-tuning of film microstructure not only for excellent electrical properties, but also for a high mechanical performance of flexible devices (e.g., a-Si:H based solar cells) during fabrication in a roll-to-roll process or under service

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. Photovoltaik (IEK-5)

Research Program(s):

1. 121 - Solar cells of the next generation (POF3-121) (POF3-121)

Appears in the scientific report 2017

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Database coverage:
; ; ; ; Current Contents - Engineering, Computing and Technology ; DOAJ Seal ; Ebsco Academic Search ; IF < 5 ; JCR ; SCOPUS ; Science Citation Index Expanded ; Thomson Reuters Master Journal List ; Web of Science Core Collection

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