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Hydrogenated microvoids and light-induced degradation of amorphous-silicon solar cells

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Abstract

Amorphous-silicon solar cells generally exhibit a degradation of conversion efficiency in the first few weeks of exposure to sun light. This degradation is associated with metastable defect centers that influence many of the properties of hydrogenated amorphous-silicon. This paper discusses a model for these metastable centers that is based on the assumption that holes can be trapped near microvoids and can induce the motion of hydrogen on the internal surfaces of the microvoids.

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Carlson, D.E. Hydrogenated microvoids and light-induced degradation of amorphous-silicon solar cells. Appl. Phys. A 41, 305–309 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00616053

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