A unique and well-organized reference, this book provides illuminating data, distinctive insight and expert guidance on silicon properties.

Optical Properties of Crystalline and Amorphous Semiconductors: Materials and Fundamental Principles presents an introduction to the fundamental optical properties of semiconductors. This book presents tutorial articles in the categories of materials and fundamental principles (Chapter 1), optical properties in the reststrahlen region (Chapter 2), those in the interband transition region (Chapters 3 and 4) and at or below the fundamental absorption edge (Chapter 5). Optical Properties of Crystalline and Amorphous Semiconductors: Materials and Fundamental Principles is presented in a form which could serve to teach the underlying concepts of semiconductor optical properties and their implementation. This book is an invaluable resource for device engineers, solid-state physicists, material scientists and students specializing in the fields of semiconductor physics and device engineering.

Today’s solar cell multi-GW market is dominated by crystalline silicon (c-Si) wafer technology, however new cell concepts are entering the market. One very promising solar cell design to answer these needs is the silicon hetero-junction solar cell, of which the emitter and back surface field are basically produced by a low temperature growth of ultra-thin layers of amorphous silicon. In this design, amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) constitutes both „emitter“ and „base-contact/back surface field“ on both sides of a thin crystalline silicon wafer-base (c-Si) where the electrons and holes are photogenerated; at the same time, a-Si:H passivates the c-Si surface. Recently, cell efficiencies above 23% have been demonstrated for such solar cells. In this book, the editors present an overview of the state-of-the-art in physics and technology of amorphous-crystalline heterostructure silicon solar cells. The heterojunction concept is introduced, processes and resulting properties of the materials used in the cell and their heterointerfaces are discussed and characterization techniques and simulation tools are presented.

Amorphous Silicon/Crystalline Silicon Solar Cells deals with some typical properties of heterojunction solar cells, such as their history, the properties and the challenges of the cells, some important measurement tools, some simulation programs and a brief survey of the state of the art, aiming to provide an initial framework in this field and serve as a ready reference for all those interested in the subject. This book helps to “fill in the blanks” on heterojunction solar cells. Readers will receive a comprehensive overview of the principles, structures, processing techniques and the current developmental states of the devices. Prof. Dr. Wolfgang R. Fahrner is a professor at the University of Hagen, Germany and Nanchang University, China.

This volume contains written versions of the papers presented at the Second Inter national Conference on Amorphous and Crystalline Silicon Carbide and Related Materials (ICACSC 1988), which was held at Santa Clara University on Decem ber 15 and 16, 1988. The conference followed the First ICACSC held at Howard University, Washington DC, in December 1987 and continued to provide an in ternational forum for discussion and exchange of ideas and results covering the current status of research on SiC and related materials. ICACSC 1988 attracted 105 participants from five countries. The substantial increase in the number of papers compared with the previous year is an indication of the growing interest in this field. Of the 45 papers presented at the conference, 36 refereed manuscripts are included in this volume, while the remaining 9 appear as abstracts. The six invited papers provide detailed reviews of recent results on amorphous and crystalline silicon carbide materials and devices, as well as diamond thin films. The volume is divided into six parts, each covering an important theme of the conference.

Silicon carbide and other group IV-IV materials in their amorphous, microcrystalline, and crystalline forms have a wide variety of applications.The contributions to this volume report recent developments and trends in the field. The purpose is to make available the current state of understanding of the materials and their potential applications. Eachcontribution focuses on a particular topic, such as preparation methods, characterization, and models explaining experimental findings. The volume also contains the latest results in the exciting field of SiGe/Si heterojunction bipolar transistors. The reader will find this book valuable as a reference source, an up-to-date and in-depth overview of this field, and, most importantly, as a window into the immense range of reading potential applications of silicon carbide. It is essential for scientists, engineers and students interested in electronic materials, high-speed heterojunction devices, and high-temperature optoelectronics.

Surface passivation of silicon solar cells describes a technology for preventing electrons and holes to recombine prematurely with one another on the wafer surface. It increases the cell's energy conversion efficiencies and thus reduces the cost per kWh generated by a PV system.