Research on Polycrystalline Thin-Film CuInGaSe2 Solar Cells: Annual Subcontract Report, 3 May 1991 - 21 May 1993

Technical Report · Fri Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1993

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/10185949· OSTI ID:10185949

Chen, W. S.; Stewart, J. M.; Mickelsen, R. A.; Devaney, W. E.; Stanbery, B. J.

This report describes work to fabricate high-efficiency CdZnS/CuInGaSe{sub 2}, thin-film solar cells and to develop improved transparent conductor window layers such as ZnO. The specific technical milestone for Phase I was to demonstrate an air mass (AM) 1.5 global 13% , 1-cm{sup 2} total-area CuInGaSe{sub 2} (CIGS) thin-film solar cell. For Phase II, the objective was to demonstrate an AM1.5 global 13.5%, 1-cm{sup 2} total-area efficiency. We focused our activities on three areas. First, we modified the CIGS deposition system to double its substrate capacity. Second, we developed new tooling to enable investigation of a modified aqueous CdZnS process in which the goal was to improve the yield of this critical step in the device fabrication process. Third, we upgraded the ZnO sputtering system to improve its reliability and reproducibility. A dual rotatable cathode metallic source was installed, and the sputtering parameters were further optimized to improve ZnO`s properties as a transparent conducting oxide (TCO). Combining the refined CdZnS process with CIGS from the newly fixtured deposition system enable us to fabricate and deliver a ZnO/Cd{sub 0.08}Zn{sub 0.20}S/CuIn{sub 0.74}Ga{sub 0.26}Se{sub 2} cell on alumina with I-V characteristics, as measured by NREL under standard test conditions, of 13.7% efficiency with V{proportional_to} = 0.5458 V, J{sub sc} = 35.48 mA/cm{sup 2}, FF = 0.688, and efficiency = 14.6%.

• Research Organization: National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
• DOE Contract Number: AC36-08GO28308
• OSTI ID: 10185949
• Report Number(s): NREL/TP-413-5835; ON: DE94000203; BR: WM1020000
• Resource Relation: Other Information: PBD: Oct 1993
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
SOLAR CELLS
FABRICATION
PROGRESS REPORT
POLYCRYSTALS
THIN FILMS
INDIUM SELENIDE SOLAR CELLS
COPPER SELENIDE SOLAR CELLS
ZINC OXIDES
CADMIUM SULFIDE SOLAR CELLS
ZINC SULFIDE SOLAR CELLS
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
DEPOSITION
SPUTTERING
MATERIALS
photovoltaics
solar cells
thin film
polycrystalline
140501
360601
PHOTOVOLTAIC CONVERSION
PREPARATION AND MANUFACTURE