Development of copper sulfide/cadmium sulfide thin-film solar cells. Fifth technical progress report, 13 July 1980-12 October 1980

Technical Report · Thu Nov 05 04:00:00 EST 1981

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5536673· OSTI ID:5536673

Szedon, J. R.; Biter, W. J.; Abel, J. A.; Dickey, H. C.

A new phase of work was begun during this quarter with an expansion of the scope of the program. Three new tasks are currently being addressed: (1) establishing the reproducibility of a wet-chemistry processing sequence for 9% efficient cells; (2) improving the performance of cells in terms of efficiency and stability; and (3) developing low-cost electrode gridding methods. Emphasis was on improving the accuracy of substrate temperature control during CdS deposition. This was achieved by welding thermocouples to a molybdenum foil tab which was subsequently welded to the copper foil substrate. With this arrangement, the possibility was reduced for false, high-temperature indications provided by thermocouples poorly welded directly to the copper. Structural features of the CdS films were consistent with control of the substrate temperature at 220/sup 0/C, as desired. Improvement of cell efficiency and stability requires better knowledge of optical and electronic properties of the Cu/sub 2/S films used in cells. Direct measurement of these properties requires removal of the copper foil substrate for optical transmission characterization. Simple etching of a window in the substrate is not acceptable since the CdS film cracks around the periphery of the window. Encouraging cell performance results were obtained with evaporated grids which consisted of two layers: a thin layer of either gold (840A) or copper (60A) on the Cu/sub 2/S surface and a 2.5 ..mu..m thick overlayer of lead.

• Research Organization: Westinghouse Electric Corp., Pittsburgh, PA (USA). Research and Development Center
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-77CH00178
• OSTI ID: 5536673
• Report Number(s): SERI/PR-8143-1-T4; ON: DE82005255
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140501* -- Solar Energy Conversion-- Photovoltaic Conversion
CADMIUM COMPOUNDS
CADMIUM SULFIDE SOLAR CELLS
CADMIUM SULFIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CONTROL
COPPER
COPPER SULFIDE SOLAR CELLS
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE
DEPOSITION
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
EFFICIENCY
ELECTRIC CONTACTS
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
ELECTRODES
ELEMENTS
EQUIPMENT
ETCHING
EVAPORATION
FABRICATION
GOLD
GRIDS
INORGANIC PHOSPHORS
LEAD
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
METALS
MICROSTRUCTURE
MOLYBDENUM
OPENINGS
PERFORMANCE
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
PHOSPHORS
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
REFRACTORY METALS
SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SUBSTRATES
SULFIDES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SURFACE FINISHING
TEMPERATURE CONTROL
THERMOCOUPLES
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
VACUUM EVAPORATION
WINDOWS