Status of the DOE/SERI Amorphous Silicon Research Project: recent advances and future directions

Recent advances in material, cell, and module research in the US Department of Energy/Solar Energy Research Institute (DOE/SERI) Amorphous Silicon Research Project (ASRP) are reviewed. Advances in transparent conductive oxides, high-performance back reflectors, cell interconnection/patterning schemes, and encapsulants are surveyed. The program phase that began in 1990 has major research goals of reproducible, cost-effective multijunction modules (900 cm² area) with stabilized efficiencies of 10% for same-bandgap modules and 12% for different-bandgap modules. The issue of stability and reliability of amorphous silicon modules is reviewed. Multijunction cell/module structures have demonstrated improved stability in R&D cells and modules over single-junction structures