Film photoconverters based on Zn/x/Cd/1-x/S solid solutions

Journal Article · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1980 · Appl. Solar Energy (Engl. Transl.); (United States)

OSTI ID:5748328

Azimov, S A; Mirsagatov, Sh A; Akhmedov, R; Rasulov, D T

Heterojunction solar cells with a base of a Zn(x)Cd(1-x)S solid solution are studied to overcome lattice constants differences which result in discontinuities of conduction bands in low cost thin film solar cells. Cu2S-CdS cells were prepared in reactors at 900 and 1100 C with hydrogen as the transporting agent to produce grain sizes larger than the photon absorption depth. X ray analysis revealed the resulting Zn(x)Cd(1-x)S films to be homogeneous and have a wurtzite structure, with 50-100 micron grains oriented in the growth direction and not to each other. A pCu(2-x)S-nZn(x)Cd(1-x)S heterojunction was formed by immersion in a copper bath at 80 C for 5 seconds. Control of the Zn content in solid solution was obtained and it was found that decreasing the Zn content biased the photosensitivity toward the long waves. Optimized performance was found to peak at 490 nm and load tests were used to determine an efficiency of 8.7%. The principal contribution to series resistance was due to resistance of the base and spreading resistance. Minimizing reflectance of the surface and the area covered by the current contact strips are projected to increase cell efficiency to 10%.

• Research Organization: AN Uzbek SSR, Physical-Technical Inst., Tashkent
• OSTI ID: 5748328
• Journal Information: Appl. Solar Energy (Engl. Transl.); (United States), Journal Name: Appl. Solar Energy (Engl. Transl.); (United States) Vol. 16:3; ISSN ASOEA
• 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
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
DISPERSIONS
EFFICIENCY
ELECTRIC CONTACTS
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
FABRICATION
FILMS
HETEROJUNCTIONS
INORGANIC PHOSPHORS
JUNCTIONS
MICROSTRUCTURE
MIXTURES
OPTIMIZATION
PERFORMANCE
PHOSPHORS
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
SEMICONDUCTOR JUNCTIONS
SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SOLID SOLUTIONS
SOLUTIONS
SULFIDES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
ZINC COMPOUNDS
ZINC SULFIDES