Analysis of the ZnTe:Cu Contact on CdS/CdTe Solar Cells: Preprint

Conference · Tue Apr 01 00:00:00 EST 2003

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1557/PROC-763-B3.4· OSTI ID:15004689

Gessert, T A; Romero, M J; Dhere, R G; Asher, S E

We report on the recent use of cathodoluminescence (CL) to probe the depth-dependent changes in radiative recombination that occur in CdTe devices during ZnTe:Cu contacting procedures. These types of CL measurements may be useful to assist in linking impurity diffusion (e.g., Cu) from the contact with depth-dependent variation in electrical activation within the CdTe layer. Variable-energy CL suggests that diffusion from the ZnTe:Cu contact interface may assist in reducing donors levels in the CdTe bulk, and thereby yield p-type material in the region near the contact. CL analysis near abrupt metal discontinuities provides estimates of diffusion lengths for carriers associated with both excitonic and donor-to-acceptor pair recombination. Finally, CL measurements at increasing excitation levels (i.e., increasing electron-beam current) provides estimates of the defect state density, as well as providing evidence that discrete multiple defect bands may exist in CdTe prior to contacting.

• Research Organization: National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: US Department of Energy (US)
• DOE Contract Number: AC36-99-GO10337
• OSTI ID: 15004689
• Report Number(s): NREL/CP-520-33940; TRN: US200320%%379
• Resource Relation: Journal Volume: 763; Conference: Prepared for the 2003 Materials Research Society Spring Meeting, San Francisco, CA (US), 04/21/2003--04/25/2003; Other Information: PBD: 1 Apr 2003
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
CATHODOLUMINESCENCE
DEFECTS
DIFFUSION
DIFFUSION LENGTH
EXCITATION
PROBES
RECOMBINATION
SOLAR CELLS
PV
CATHODOLUMINESCENCE (CL)
CDTE
ZNTE: CU CONTACT
ELECTRON-BEAM CURRENT
DEPTH-DEPENDENT
CLOSE-SPACE SUBLIMATION
SECONDARY-ION MASS SPECTROSCOPY (SIMS)
SOLAR ENERGY - PHOTOVOLTAICS