Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research

Laboratory for Semiconductor Materials and Processes

Research areas

1. Fabrication of ultra-low reflectivity Si surfaces and application to crystalline Si solar cells.
2. Si defect passivation by new chemical methods, and application to Si solar cells.
3. Fabrication of Si nanoparticle solar cells.
4. Research on materials related to liquid crystal display and LSI.
5. Spectroscopic research on Si surfaces and interfaces.

Our purpose is to give an essential solution to energy and environmental problems, the most serious problems in our society. We aim to improve conversion efficiencies of crystalline Si solar cells, which cover ~85% of commercial solar cells. For this purpose, we have developed a method of fabrication of ultra-low reflectivity Si surfaces, and chemical methods to for defect passivation to avoid recombination loss. We also study Si nanoparticle solar cells in order to achieve both low-cost and high efficiency. We are engaged in a chain of research involving creation of new materials, their observation, and improvement of solar cells and liquid crystal displays.