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Degradation of Cu/SUB x/S/CdS in hot, moist air: experiment and theory

Conference · · Conf. Rec. IEEE Photovoltaic Spec. Conf.; (United States)
OSTI ID:5391136
A polycrystalline, thin-film Cu/SUB x/S/CdS solar cell was treated in air saturated with water vapor at temperatures between 27/sup 0/C and 67/sup 0/C for up to six and one-half hours. The short-circuit current decreased progressively from 11.7 to 1.02 mA/cm/sup 2/. Modeling of the measured quantum yield indicates that the degradation could be explained by two effects. The Cu/SUB x/S minority carrier electron diffusion length decreased from 0.23 to 0.02 micron, and the Cu/SUB x/S band gap increased from 1.16 to 1.38 eV.
Research Organization:
Chevron Research Company, Richmond, CA
OSTI ID:
5391136
Report Number(s):
CONF-820906-
Conference Information:
Journal Name: Conf. Rec. IEEE Photovoltaic Spec. Conf.; (United States)
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English