Development of High-Efficiency, Thin-Film CdTe Solar Cells: Annual Subcontract Report, 1 January 1993 - 31 December 1993

Technical Report · Thu Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1994

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/10183690· OSTI ID:10183690

Rohatgi, A.; Chou, H. C.; Kamra, S.; Bhat, A.

Polycrystalline thin film CdTe solar cells are one of the leading candidates for terrestrial photovoltaic applications. Theoretical calculations project an efficiency of 27% for single crystal, single junction CdTe cells, and the practically achievable efficiency for polycrystalline CdTe cells is 18-20%. Polycrystalline CdTe cells made by different groups show a significant variation in short circuit currents, open circuit voltages, and cell efficiencies. A better understanding of carrier loss and transport mechanism is crucial for explaining these differences, improving the yield, and bridging the gap between current and practically achievable limits in CdTe cell efficiencies. The goal of this program is to improve the understanding of the loss mechanisms in thin film CdS/CdTe solar cells and to improve their efficiency by characterizing the properties of the films as well as the finished devices.

• 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: 10183690
• Report Number(s): NREL/TP-451-7065; ON: DE94011885; TRN: 94:008461
• Resource Relation: Other Information: PBD: Sep 1994
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
CADMIUM TELLURIDE SOLAR CELLS
FABRICATION
CADMIUM TELLURIDES
DEPOSITION
PROGRESS REPORT
THIN FILMS
EFFICIENCY
PRODUCTION
CHEMICAL VAPOR DEPOSITION
CRYSTAL DEFECTS
photovoltaics
solar cells
high efficiency
thin films
cadmium telluride
140501
360601
PHOTOVOLTAIC CONVERSION
PREPARATION AND MANUFACTURE