Spray solar cell research: CdS/Cu/sub 2/S cells by ion exchange-CSD. Quarterly report No. 1, October 1-December 31, 1979

Technical Report · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1979

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5227887· OSTI ID:5227887

Maruska, H. P.; Young, II, A. R.

A study of the applicability of the Chemical Spray Deposition-Ion Exchange Technique to the formation of high efficiency, low cost Cu/sub 2/S/CdS solar cells has been undertaken. A Chemical Spray Deposition (CSD) apparatus and an Ion Exchange annealing station have been designed, and construction of these facilities is nearing completion. The object is to form films of CdO and Cu/sub 2/O by spraying appropriate solutions onto a heated substrate, and then to convert these oxides into CdS and Cu/sub 2/S through ion exchange by annealing in H/sub 2/S vapor. Such films will then be the basis for fabricating Cu/sub 2/S/CdS solar cells. Temporary spray and annealing equipment has been used while the permanent facilities are completed. CdO oxide films with thicknesses of 0.1 to 0.5 microns have been deposited. There is preferred crystal growth in the (111) direction on glass substrates. However, on SnO/sub 2/ coated glass, a (200) preferred orientation is obvious. The crystallite size is 5 to 10 microns, and porous spheres 10 to 20 microns in diameter are visible on the surface. After annealing in H/sub 2/S, the films are converted to CdS, but the reaction is not complete after 2 h. The optical transmission is now characteristic of CdS. The grain size was found to increase to the 100 micron range, but the surface spheres remain. A mixture of CuO and Cu/sub 2/O was formed in a preliminary spraying. The film converted to the digenite and djurleite phases of copper sulfide. Much improved control of the deposition process will result when the permanent facilities come on-line.

• Research Organization: Exxon Research and Engineering Co., Linden, NJ (USA). Advanced Energy Systems Labs.
• DOE Contract Number: EG-77-C-01-4042
• OSTI ID: 5227887
• Report Number(s): DSE-4042-T20
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140501* -- Solar Energy Conversion-- Photovoltaic Conversion
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360601 -- Other Materials-- Preparation & Manufacture
ANNEALING
CADMIUM COMPOUNDS
CADMIUM OXIDES
CADMIUM SULFIDE SOLAR CELLS
CADMIUM SULFIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
COHERENT SCATTERING
COPPER COMPOUNDS
COPPER OXIDES
COPPER SULFIDES
DEPOSITION
DIFFRACTION
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
EQUIPMENT
FABRICATION
HEAT TREATMENTS
INORGANIC PHOSPHORS
MICROSCOPY
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHOSPHORS
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
POWDERS
SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
SCATTERING
SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SPRAY COATING
SULFIDES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SURFACE COATING
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
X-RAY DIFFRACTION