New Si-based multilayers for solar cell applications

In this article, we have fabricated and studied a new multilayer structure Si-SiO₂/SiN _x by reactive magnetron sputtering. The comparison between SiO₂ and SiN _x host matrices in the optical properties of the multilayers is detailed. Structural analysis was made on the multilayer structures using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The effect of specific annealing treatments on the optical properties is studied and we report a higher visible luminescence with a control over the thermal budget when SiO₂ is replaced by the SiN _x matrix. The latter seems to be a potential candidate to replace the most sought SiO₂ host matrix.