X-ray and XPS studies of evaporated Cu/sub x/S thin films

Journal Article · Fri Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1983 · J. Vac. Sci. Technol., A; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1116/1.571908· OSTI ID:5865732

Uppal, P N; Burton, L C

The structural changes in Cu/sub x/S films have been monitored by x-ray diffraction and correlated to the chemical changes taking place on the Cu/sub x/S surface, the latter monitored by XPS. The results show: evaporated Cu/sub x/S films contained chalcocite, free copper phases, and probably a third phase (of sulfur); resistivity is related to the amounts of free Cu and S in the film; air heat treatments converted chalcocite to Cu deficient phases and resulted in the disappearance of the sulfide and predominance of CuSO/sub 4/xnH/sub 2/O and CuO; argon heat treatment tended to react Cu and S to form Cu/sub x/S; Cd is detected on the surface of Cu/sub x/S deposited onto CdS and is significantly increased in amount by heat treatments. These results can be related to chemical processes occurring on Cu/sub x/S/CdS and Cu/sub x/S/(Zn,Cd)S solar cells. For the CdS cell, oxides and sulfates of Cu and Cd are found on the Cu/sub x/S surface and the sulfates are enhanced by the heat treatment in moist air. CuO and CuSO/sub 4/ are formed in the absence of Cd, and dominate the Cu/sub x/S surface.

• Research Organization: Departments of Electrical and Materials Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061
• OSTI ID: 5865732
• Journal Information: J. Vac. Sci. Technol., A; (United States), Journal Name: J. Vac. Sci. Technol., A; (United States) Vol. 1:2; ISSN JVTAD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140501 -- Solar Energy Conversion-- Photovoltaic Conversion
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360603* -- Materials-- Properties
CADMIUM SULFIDE SOLAR CELLS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
COHERENT SCATTERING
COPPER COMPOUNDS
COPPER SULFIDES
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE
CRYSTALS
DIFFRACTION
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELECTRON SPECTROSCOPY
EQUIPMENT
EVAPORATION
FILMS
GLASS
HEAT TREATMENTS
IONIZING RADIATIONS
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PHOTOELECTRON SPECTROSCOPY
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
POLYCRYSTALS
RADIATIONS
SCATTERING
SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SPECTROSCOPY
STRUCTURAL CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
SULFIDES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
THIN FILMS
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
VACUUM EVAPORATION
X RADIATION
X-RAY DIFFRACTION
ZINC SULFIDE SOLAR CELLS