Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Growth of photovoltaic semiconductors

  • Special Issue Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Electronic Materials Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We assess the opportunities for improving the quality and lowering the cost of thin crystalline semiconductor films for photovoltaics. We find that novel growth and processing methods can lower the cost of crystalline semiconductor films to satisfy the economic conditions for a major expansion of the photovoltaic industry. The research requirements are in the areas of novel precursors for vapor phase growth, atomic layer epitaxy for unprecedented control, and the requirement for novel in situ and ex situ probes to ensure that the new growth methods are producing the utmost in photovoltaic material quality.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. F. Stern and J. M. Woodall,J. Appl. Phys. 45, 3904 (1974).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. M. Konagai, M. Sugimoto, and K. Takahashi,J. Cryst. Growth 45, 277 (1978).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. J.C.C. Fan,J. Phys. 43, C1–327 (1982).

    Google Scholar 

  4. E. Yablonovitch, T. Gmitter, J.P. Harbison and R. Bhat,Appl. Phys. Lett. 51, 2222 1987).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. G.B. Stringfellow,OMVPE: Theory and Practice (Boston, MA: Academic Press, 1989).

    Google Scholar 

  6. S. K. Shastry, S. Zemon, D.G. Kenneson and G. Lambert,Appl. Phys. Lett. 52, 150 (1988).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. G. Haacke, S.P. Watkins, and H. Burkhard,J. Cryst. Growth 107, 342 (1991).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. K.L. Fry, C.P. Kuo, C.A. Larsen, R.M. Cohen, G.B. Stringfellow and A. Melas,J. Electron. Mater. 15, 91 (1986).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. J. Knauf, D. Schmitz, G. Strauch, H. Jurgensen, M. Heyen and A. Melas,J. Cryst. Growth 93, 34 (1988).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. C.H. Chen, C.T. Chiu, G.B. Stringfellow and R.W. Gedridge,J. Cryst. Growth 124, 88 (1992).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. A.C. Jones and S.A. Ruchworth,J. Cryst. Growth 107, 350 (1991).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. M.E. Gross, L.H. Dubois, R.G. Nuzzo and K.P. Cheung,Mat. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc. Vol. 204 (Pittsburgh, PA: Mater. Res. Soc, 1991), p. 3.

    Google Scholar 

  13. J.S. Foord, N.K. Sing, A.T.S. Wee, C.L. French and E.T. Fitzgerald,Mat. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc. Vol. 204 (Pittsburgh, PA: Mater. Res. Soc, 1991), p. 3.

    Google Scholar 

  14. A.C. Jones, C.R. Whitehouse, T. Martin and P.A. Lane,J. Cryst. Growth 124, 81 (1992).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. R.M. Lum and J.K. Klingert,J. Cryst. Growth 107, 290(1991).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. D.M. Speckman and J. P. Wendt,J. Cryst. Growth 105, 275 (1990).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. S.P. Watkins and G. Haacke,Appl. Phys. Lett, 59, 2263 (1991).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. C.A. Larsen, N.I. Buchan, D.S. Li and G.B. Stringfellow,J. Cryst. Growth 94, 663 (1989).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. S.H. Li, N.I. Buchan, C.A. Larsen and G.B. StringfellowJ. Cryst. Growth 98, 309 (1989).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. C.R. Abernathy, P.W. Wisk, S.J. Pearton, F. Ren, D.A. Bohling and G.T. Muhr,J. Cryst. Growth 124, 64;Appl. Phys. Lett. 60, 2421 (1992).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. S. Watkins and G. Haacke (Paper presented at the 3rd Intl. Conf., on InP and Related Compounds, Cardif, Wales, 1991).

  22. S.H. Li, CA. Larsen, N.I. Buchan and G.B. Stringfellow,J. Electron. Mater. 18, 457 (1989).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. S. H. Li, CA. Larsen, G.B. Stringfellow and R.W. Gedridge,J. Electron. Mater. 20, 457 (1991).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. C.H. Chen, Z.M. Fang, G.B. Stringfellow and R.W. Gedridge,Appl. Phys. Lett. 58, 2532 (1991)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. D.S. Cao, C.H. Chen, C.W. Hill, S.H. Li, G.B. Stringfellow, D.C. Gordon, D.W. Brown and B.A. Vaartstra,J. Electron. Mater. 21, 583 (1992).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. C.H. Chen, K.T. Huang, D.L. Drobeck and G.B. Stringfellow,J. Cryst. Growth 124, 142 (1992).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. P.D. Dapkus, B.Y. Maa, Q. Chen, W.G. Jeong and S.P. Den Baars,J. Cryst. Growth 107, 73 (1991).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. B.C. Chung, R.T. Green, and H.F. MacMillan,J. Cryst. Growth, 107, 89 (1991); H. Yokoyama, M. Shinohara, and N. Inone,J. Cryst. Growth 115, 89 (1991).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. See, for example, T. Suntola,Mater. Sci. Repts. 4. 261 (1989).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. C.H.L. Goodman and M.V. Pessa,J. Appl. Phys. 60, R65 (1986).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. J.-O. Carlsson, S. Gorbatkin, D. Lubben and J.E. Green,J. Vac. Sci. Technol. B9, 2759 (1991).

    Google Scholar 

  32. M.A. Hasan, J. Knall, S.A. Barnett, J.-E. Sundgren, L.C. Markert, A. Rockett and J.E. Green,J. Appl. Phys. 65, 172 (1989); and W.-X. Ni, G.V. Hansson, J.-E. Sundgren, L.C. Markert and J.E. Greene,Phys. Rev. B (in press),Phys. Rev. B (in press).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Y. Suda, D. Lubben, T. Motooka and J.E. Greene,J. Vac. Sci. Technol. A8, 61 (1990); and R. Tsu, D. Lubben, T.R. Bramblett, J.E. Greene, D.-S. Lin and T.-C. Chiang,Surf. Sci. (in press).

    Google Scholar 

  34. D.-S. Lin, E.S. Hirschorn, T.-C Chiang, R. Tsu, D. Lubben and J.E. Greene,Phys. Rev. B45, 3494 (1992).

    Google Scholar 

  35. D. Lubben, R. Tsu, T.R. Bramblett and J.E. Greene,J. Vac. Sci Technol. A8, 61 (1990).

    Google Scholar 

  36. G.S. Chen, D.H. Jaw, and G.B. Stringfellow,J. Appl. Phys. 69, 4263 (1991).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. B.A. Joyce,Advanced Crystal Growth, eds. P.M. Dryburgh, B. Cockayne, and K.G. Barraclough (London: Prentice Hall, 1987), pp. 337–385.

    Google Scholar 

  38. D.E. Aspnes, E. Colas, A.A. Studna, R. Bhat, M.A. Koza and V.G. Keramidas,Phys. Rev. Lett. 61, 2782 (1988); E. Colas, D.E. Aspnes, R. Bhat, A.A. Studna, J.P. Harbison, L.T. Florez, M.A. Koza and V.G. Keramidas,J. Crystal Growth 107, 47 (1991).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. F.J. Lamelas, P. H. Fuoss, P. Imperatori, D.W. Kisker, G.B. Stephenson and S. Brennan,Appl. Phys. Lett. 60, 2610 (1992).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. I. Kamiya, H. Tanaka, D.E. Aspnes, L. T. Florez, E. Colas, J.P. Harbison and R. Bhat,Appl. Phys. Lett. 60, 1238 (1992).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. G.S. Chen, D.H. Jaw, and G.B. Stringfellow,J. Appl. Phys. 69, 4263 (1991).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Y. Yamauchi, T. Makimoto, N. Kobayashi and Y. Horikoshi,Jpn. J. Appl. Phys. L1353 (1990); N. Kobayashi and Y. Horikoshi,Jpn. J. Appl. Phys. 30, L319 (1991).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Bell Communications Research, Navesink Research Center, 07701-7040, Red Bank, NJ

    E. Yablonovitch

  2. Department of Materials Science, University of Utah, 84112, Salt Lake City, UT

    G. B. Stringfellow

  3. Coordinated Science Laboratory, University of Illinois, 61801, Urbana, IL

    J. E. Greene

Authors
  1. E. Yablonovitch
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. G. B. Stringfellow
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. J. E. Greene
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Yablonovitch, E., Stringfellow, G.B. & Greene, J.E. Growth of photovoltaic semiconductors. J. Electron. Mater. 22, 49–55 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02665723

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02665723

Key words

Search

Navigation