Bifacial CdTe Solar Cells with Copper Chromium Oxide Back‐Buffer Layer

Pokhrel, Dipendra; Mathew, Xavier; Khanal Subedi, Kamala; Patel, Aesha; Phillips, Adam B.; Bastola, Ebin; Abudulimu, Abasi; Jamarkattel, Manoj K.; Rijal, Suman; Quader, Abdul; Friedl, Jared; Zawisza, Zachary; Yan, Yanfa; Heben, Michael J.; Ellingson, Randy J.

doi:10.1002/solr.202200501

Bifacial CdTe Solar Cells with Copper Chromium Oxide Back‐Buffer Layer

Journal Article · Thu Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 2022 · Solar RRL

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/solr.202200501· OSTI ID:1885167

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Wright Center for Photovoltaic Innovation and Commercialization Department of Physics and Astronomy University of Toledo Toledo OH 43606 USA
Wright Center for Photovoltaic Innovation and Commercialization Department of Physics and Astronomy University of Toledo Toledo OH 43606 USA, Instituto de Energías Renovables Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México Temixco Morelos 62580 México

Bifacial solar cells have the potential to maintain energy output higher than monofacial devices under unfavorable weather conditions. A transparent back‐buffer layer which can passivate the interface and improve the minority carrier lifetime is critical in CdTe‐based bifacial devices. Herein, solution‐processed Cu _x Cr _y O _z as a promising back‐buffer for CdTe/CdS solar cells is demonstrated. The carrier lifetimes measured at the front and back of the device are 31.2 and 3.1 ns, respectively, which correspond to an increase of ≈38% and 138%, respectively, compared to the reference device. This dramatic improvement in lifetime results in a 100% increase in short‐circuit current measured with backside illumination. The best bifacial device has efficiencies 7.6% and 12.5%, respectively, from back and front illumination, yielding a bifaciality factor of 0.60.

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Research Organization:: Colorado State Univ., Fort Collins, CO (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: US Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR); USDOE; USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Renewable Power Office. Solar Energy Technologies Office

Grant/Contract Number:: EE0008974

OSTI ID:: 1885167

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 2418720
OSTI ID: 1897534

Journal Information:: Solar RRL, Journal Name: Solar RRL Journal Issue: 11 Vol. 6; ISSN 2367-198X

Publisher:: Wiley Blackwell (John Wiley & Sons)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: Germany

Language:: English

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