Fundamental thermodynamics and experiments in fabricating high efficiency CuInSe[sub 2] solar cells by selenization without the use of H[sub 2]Se

Conference · Tue Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1992 · AIP Conference Proceedings (American Institute of Physics); (United States)

OSTI ID:5319613

Albin, D; Carapella, J; Gabor, A; Tennant, A; Tuttle, J; Duda, A; Matson, R; Mason, A; Contreras, M; Noufi, R ^[1]

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1. National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 1617 Cole Boulevard, Golden, Colorado 80401 (United States)

Selenization is the current process by which state-of-the-art CuInSe[sub 2] polycrystalline thin-film photovoltaic modules are industrially fabricated. The distinguishing characteristic of this approach is that material deposition is separate from compound formation. In conventional selenization, In-Cu layers, often referred to as precursors, are deposited on molybdenum-coated glass substrates and subsequently transformed into CuInSe[sub 2] following exposure to a selenium-containing environment. Although the highly toxic gas, H[sub 2]Se, has been considered a necessary component of selenization, recent safety concerns have accelerated the development of Se vapor as a possible substitute for H[sub 2]Se. In more recent variations of the process, solid selenium is incorporated during the precursor fabrication step, and subsequent thermal annealing is used to form compounds among the three elements. In this paper, we discuss the thermodynamic fundamentals of selenization using elemental Se as an alternative to H[sub 2]Se. This discussion is augmented by empirical observations drawn from our own efforts in fabricating efficient ([gt]10%) CdS/CuInSe[sub 2] devices by selenization in thermally-evaporated Se vapors. Indium transport, presumably via the formation of In[sub 2]Se or InSe gaseous species, dominates the kinetics of selenization using sequentially evaporated (indium on copper) precursors, while lateral phase separation was observed in the case of co-deposited In+Cu precursors.

• DOE Contract Number: AC02-83CH10093
• OSTI ID: 5319613
• Report Number(s): CONF-9205115--
• Conference Information: Journal Name: AIP Conference Proceedings (American Institute of Physics); (United States) Journal Volume: 268:1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140501* -- Solar Energy Conversion-- Photovoltaic Conversion
COPPER SELENIDE SOLAR CELLS
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
EFFICIENCY
EQUIPMENT
FABRICATION
FILMS
INDIUM SELENIDE SOLAR CELLS
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES
THIN FILMS