Ex Situ Bismuth Doping for Efficient CdSeTe Thin-Film Solar Cells with Open-Circuit Voltages Exceeding 900 mV

Journal Article · Fri Nov 08 04:00:00 EST 2024 · Joule

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joule.2024.09.013· OSTI ID:2480813

Neupane, Sabin; Li, Deng-Bing; Abudulimu, Abasi; Jamarkattel, Manoj Kumar; Jiang, Chun-Sheng; Xian, Yeming; Duan, Xiaomeng; Phillips, Adam B.; Heben, Michael J.; Ellingson, Randall J.; Yan, Feng; Lu, Dingyuan; Mao, Dan; Miller, Nicholas; Becker, James; Huber, William; Xiong, Gang; Yan, Yanfa

The focus of CdSeTe thin-film solar cell doping has transitioned from copper (Cu) doping to group V doping. In situ group V doping has resulted in a new record power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 23.1%, with open-circuit voltages (VOCs) exceeding the 900 mV mark. Here, we report that ex situ bismuth (Bi)-doped CdSeTe thin-film solar cells show VOCs exceeding 900 mV and a champion PCE of 20.6%. Characterizations revealed that the Se-rich CdSeTe region near the front junction promotes Bi ions to occupy the anion sites and dope this region weakly p-type. Bi ions in the CdTe-dominating back surface region occupy the cation sites and are oxidized. This ex situ Bi doping with BiF3 as a dopant precursor offers several advantages, including simplicity, high tolerance to the processing environment, and no requirement of additional Cd vapor or special activation processes, making it highly adaptable for researchers to explore efficient Bi-doped CdSeTe thin-film solar cells.

• Research Organization: National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: National Science Foundation (NSF); USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Renewable Power Office. Solar Energy Technologies Office
• DOE Contract Number: AC36-08GO28308
• OSTI ID: 2480813
• Report Number(s): NREL/JA-5K00-92414; MainId:94195; UUID:9ef1c08a-8700-4ef4-ae2a-19c4ed19ce84; MainAdminId:75473
• Journal Information: Joule, Journal Name: Joule Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 9
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

CdTe solar cell
SOLAR ENERGY
bismuth doping
ex situ doping
group V doping