Title:
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Thin film silicon on textiles by microwave plasma chemical vapour deposition
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An investigation into the fabrication of thin film silicon solar cells constructed
onto polyester textile substrates is presented. The absence of a photovoltaic
effect was found to be due to oxygen contamination in the silicon layers of the
cell stack. This was concluded from FTIR absorption lines, as the Si-H2 peak
had been blue-shifted from its original location, through the inductive effect of
oxygen atoms being incorporated into the molecule. From the current-voltage
analysis of the cells, the oxygen contamination was reconfirmed, as an electric
field ample enough to create a depletion region across the i-layer to result in a
PV effect, could not be established. Through the use of fibre melding
techniques, amorphous/nanocrystalline silicon semiconductor junctions were
successfully deposited on thermally bonded nonwoven spunlace. (hydroentanglement)
PET. This new technique reduoed the density of electrical
breaks within the textile, thus rectifying junctions possessing characteristics
analogous to those deposited on solid glass sheets \vere produced.
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