Properties of Cd and Zn Partial Electrolyte Treated CIGS Solar Cells: Preprint

Conference · Wed May 01 00:00:00 EDT 2002

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1109/PVSC.2002.1190617· OSTI ID:15006978

Ramanathan, K; Hasoon, F S; Smith, S; Mascarenhas, A; Al-Thani, H; Alleman, J; Ullal, H S; Keane, J; Johnson, P K; Sites, J R

We study the influence of Cd partial baths on the photovoltaic properties of CuInGaSe2 (CIGS) and CuIn-GaSSe2 (CIGSS) thin film absorbers. We find that efficient solar cells can be fabricated by this treatment, and we compare their properties with those containing CdS window layers grown by chemical bath deposition. The results suggest that Cd plays a dominant role in establishing efficient photovoltaic junctions in CuInSe2 alloys. Micron scale photoluminescence scans show non-uniformity along the length probed. Cd treatment quenches one of the luminescence transitions, which indicates a change in shallow acceptor level density. We present a model that helps to explain the evolution of photovoltaic action.

• 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: 15006978
• Report Number(s): NREL/CP-520-31475; TRN: US200412%%547
• Resource Relation: Conference: Conference title not supplied, Conference location not supplied, Conference dates not supplied; Other Information: PBD: 1 May 2002; Related Information: Prepared for the 29th IEEE PV Specialists Conference, 20-24 May
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
ALLOYS
DEPOSITION
ELECTROLYTES
ENERGY-LEVEL DENSITY
LUMINESCENCE
PHOTOLUMINESCENCE
SOLAR CELLS
THIN FILMS
WINDOWS
SOLAR ENERGY
PV
CUIN-GASSE2 (CIGSS)
CUINGASE2 (CIGS)
THIN FILM ABSORBERS
CHEMICAL BATH DEPOSITION (CBD)
CURRENT-VOLTAGE
ELECTROLYTE
N-TYPE DOPING
INVERSION
COMPOSITIONAL GRADING
INTERFACE PASSIVATION
SOLAR ENERGY - PHOTOVOLTAICS