Polarization compensation at low p-GaN doping density in InGaN/GaN p-i-n solar cells: Effect of InGaN interlayers

The effectiveness of polarization matching layer (PML) between i-InGaN/p-GaN is studied numerically for Ga-face InGaN/GaN p-i-n solar cell at low p-GaN doping (similar to 5e17 cm(-3)). The simulations are performed for four InxGa1-xN/GaN heterostructures (x = 10%, 15%, 20% and 25%), thus investigating the impact of PML for low as well as high indium containing absorber regions. Use of PML presents a suitable alternative to counter the effects of polarization-induced electric fields arising at low p-GaN doping density especially for absorber regions with high indium (>10%). It is seen that it not only mitigates the negative effects of polarization-induced electric fields but also reduces the high potential barriers existing at i-InGaN/p-GaN heterojunction. The improvement in photovoltaic properties of the heterostructures even at low p-GaN doping validates this claim. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.