Polycrystalline Thin Film Cadmium Telluride Solar Cells Fabricated by Electrodeposition, Annual Subcontract Report, 20 March 1992 - 19 March 1993
This report describes progress during the first year of a 3-year program at Colorado School of Mines, based upon earlier studies performed by Ametek Corporation, to develop specific layers of the Ametek n-i-p structure as well as additional studies of several transparent conducting oxides. Thin films of ZnO and ZnO:Al were deposited under various conditions. For the n-layer of the Ametek structure, a dip-coating method was developed for the deposition of CdS films. The authors also present data on the characterization of these films by X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, scanning tunneling microscopy, small-angle X-ray scattering, and other techniques. They made progress in the electrodeposition of the CdTe i-layer of the Ametek structure. They developed appropriate electrochemical baths and are beginning to understand the role of the many experimental parameters that must be controlled to obtain high-quality films of this material. They explored the possibility of using an electrochemical process for fabricating the ZnTe p-layer. Some preliminary success was achieved, and this step will be pursued in the next phase. Finally, they fabricated a number of ``dot`` solar cells with the structure glass/SnO{sub 2}/CdS/CdTe/Au. Several cells with efficiencies in the range of 5%-6% were obtained, and they are confident, given recent progress, that cells with efficiencies in excess of 10% will be achieved in the near future.
- 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:
- 10178193
- Report Number(s):
- NREL/TP-451-5652; ON: DE93018201; TRN: AHC29309%%22
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: PBD: Aug 1993
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
CADMIUM TELLURIDE SOLAR CELLS
FABRICATION
PROGRESS REPORT
THIN FILMS
POLYCRYSTALS
ELECTRODEPOSITED COATINGS
ELECTRODEPOSITION
ZINC OXIDES
CADMIUM SULFIDES
ZINC TELLURIDES
photovoltaics
solar cells
cadmium telluride
polycrystalline
thin film
electrodeposition
140501
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