Imaging CdCl2 defect passivation and formation in polycrystalline CdTe films by cathodoluminescence

Biduad, Thomas; Moseley, John; Amarasinghe, Mahisha; Al-Jassim, Mowafak; Metzger, Wyatt K.; Collin, Stéphane

doi:10.1103/physrevmaterials.5.064601

Imaging CdCl₂ defect passivation and formation in polycrystalline CdTe films by cathodoluminescence

Journal Article · Thu Jun 03 00:00:00 EDT 2021 · Physical Review Materials

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevmaterials.5.064601· OSTI ID:1787552

^[1]; Moseley, John ^[2]; Amarasinghe, Mahisha ^[3]; Al-Jassim, Mowafak ^[2]; Metzger, Wyatt K. ^[2]; ^[1]

Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA), Saclay (France)
National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States); Univ. of Illinois, Chicago, IL (United States)

Polycrystalline thin-film solar cells are attractive for low-cost photovoltaics, but their efficiencies are hindered by material quality issues. State-of-the-art CdTe solar cells use CdCl₂ annealing treatments whose effects are still being discovered at a fundamental level. Here, a series of CdTe samples with different annealing temperatures is investigated with high-resolution hyperspectral cathodoluminescence mapping measured at both room temperature and low temperature on the same microscopic areas. A statistical analysis over a large number of grains is combined with a local analysis at grain boundaries. The results elucidate the dynamic interplay between grain boundary and intragrain defect passivation and formation, in the midst of grain growth. The CdCl₂ annealing initially contributes to an increase of the grain size and the passivation of both grain boundaries and grain interiors, increasing the overall luminescence and diffusion length. For higher annealing temperatures, a further increase of grain size is counterbalanced by the rise of bulk defects. The results illustrate the tradeoffs that lead to an optimal annealing temperature, as well as new methods for understanding defect passivation and creation in thin film solar cells.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC36-08GO28308

OSTI ID:: 1787552

Report Number(s):: NREL/JA--5K00-77479; MainId:27415; UUID:fc73e88c-e6c0-4d6e-bde8-4399e7e3e8f8; MainAdminID:24525

Journal Information:: Physical Review Materials, Journal Name: Physical Review Materials Journal Issue: 6 Vol. 5; ISSN 2475-9953

Publisher:: American Physical Society (APS)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Imaging CdCl2 defect passivation and formation in polycrystalline CdTe films by cathodoluminescence

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Imaging CdCl₂ defect passivation and formation in polycrystalline CdTe films by cathodoluminescence