Hydrogenated amorphous silicon thin film solar cells using a hybrid buffer layer of gold nanoparticle and tungsten oxide thin film

A double layer of gold nano particles (Au-NPs) and amorphous tungsten oxide (a-WO₃) was employed as a buffer layer on textured fluorine-tin oxide (FTO) glass in pin-type hydrogenated amorphous silicon solar cells (a-Si:H SCs). Au-NPs of ~10 nm size were spin coated and a-WO₃ layer was thermally evaporated between Au-NPs on a FTO glass and hydrogenated amorphous p-type Si layer. a-Si:H SCs with a double buffer layer showed higher efficiency of 7% improvement, 8.059% from a value of 7.530%, and increased current density of 8.3% improvement, 14.212 mA/cm² from a value of 13.120 mA/cm ², originating from the enhancement of electrical interface contact and bandgap alignment, as well as the slight absorption and surface plasmon resonance effect due to Au-NPs on textured FTO glass.