title: Dependence of lattice strain relaxation, absorbance, and sheet resistance on thickness in textured ZnO@B transparent conductive oxide for thin-film solar cell applications.
abstract: The interplay of surface texture, strain relaxation, absorbance, grain size, and sheet resistance in textured, boron-doped ZnO (ZnO@B), transparent conductive oxide (TCO) materials of different thicknesses used for thin film, solar cell applications is investigated. The residual strain induced by the lattice mismatch and the difference in the thermal expansion coefficient for thicker ZnO@B is relaxed, leading to an increased surface texture, stronger absorbance, larger grain size, and lower sheet resistance. These experimental results reveal the optical and material characteristics of the TCO layer, which could be useful for enhancing the performance of solar cells through an optimized TCO layer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Traffic Science, Central Police University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Kuang-Yang
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Kou
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Physics, National University of Kaohsiung, No.700 Kaohsiung University Road, Nan-Tzu Dist., 811. Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yu-En
authors.initials: YE
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Green Energy and Environment Research Labs, Industrial Technology Research Institute, Hsinchu, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chien-Hsun
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Physics, National University of Kaohsiung, No.700 Kaohsiung University Road, Nan-Tzu Dist., 811. Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Shih-Wei
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Feng
keywords: absorbance; low-pressure chemical vapor deposition; strain relaxation; textured ZnO; transparent conductive oxide