title: Molecular Monolayers for Electrical Passivation and Functionalization of Silicon-Based Solar Energy Devices.
abstract: Silicon-based solar fuel devices require passivation for optimal performance yet at the same time need functionalization with (photo)catalysts for efficient solar fuel production. Here, we use molecular monolayers to enable electrical passivation and simultaneous functionalization of silicon-based solar cells. Organic monolayers were coupled to silicon surfaces by hydrosilylation in order to avoid an insulating silicon oxide layer at the surface. Monolayers of 1-tetradecyne were shown to passivate silicon micropillar-based solar cells with radial junctions, by which the efficiency increased from 8.7% to 9.9% for n+/p junctions and from 7.8% to 8.8% for p+/n junctions. This electrical passivation of the surface, most likely by removal of dangling bonds, is reflected in a higher shunt resistance in the J-V measurements. Monolayers of 1,8-nonadiyne were still reactive for click chemistry with a model catalyst, thus enabling simultaneous passivation and future catalyst coupling.
authors.affiliation: Molecular NanoFabrication and ‡Mesoscale Chemical Systems groups, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Twente , P.O. Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Janneke
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0824-2923
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Veerbeek
authors.affiliation: Molecular NanoFabrication and ‡Mesoscale Chemical Systems groups, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Twente , P.O. Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Nienke J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Firet
authors.affiliation: Molecular NanoFabrication and ‡Mesoscale Chemical Systems groups, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Twente , P.O. Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Wouter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Vijselaar
authors.affiliation: Molecular NanoFabrication and ‡Mesoscale Chemical Systems groups, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Twente , P.O. Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Rick
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Elbersen
authors.affiliation: Molecular NanoFabrication and ‡Mesoscale Chemical Systems groups, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Twente , P.O. Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Han
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gardeniers
authors.affiliation: Molecular NanoFabrication and ‡Mesoscale Chemical Systems groups, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Twente , P.O. Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jurriaan
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4596-9179
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huskens
keywords: electrical passivation; hydrosilylation; organic monolayers; shunt resistance; silicon solar cells