Feasibility of using copper indium disulfide for high-efficiency, thin-film solar cells: Final subcontract report, 1 February 1985-30 September 1986

Technical Report · Wed Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1987

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6429968· OSTI ID:6429968

This research investigated the deposition of CuInS/sub 2/ films to determine the feasibility of using CuInS/sub 2/ for high-efficiency, thin-film solar cells. Two techniques were investigated for depositing p-CuInS/sub 2/ films on foreign substrates: (1) the close-spaced chemical vapor transport (CSCVT) technique; and (2) the deposition of Cu-In films by the thermal reduction of Cu and In compounds or by electro-deposition, followed by sulfurization. The photoresponse of CSCVT CuInS/sub 2/ films was poor, possibly due to stoichiometry, defects, or impurities. The deposition of Cu-In alloy films on W/Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/ and Mo/glass substrates was carried out by thermal reduction of a mixture of Cu(NO/sub 3/)/sub 2/ and In(NO/sub 3/)/sub 2/. However, relatively high temperatures were required, due to the stability of In/sub 2/O/sub 3/. The photovoltaic characteristics of CuInS/sub 2/ films prepared from electroplated Cu-In were similar to those from CSCVT; the highest open-circuit voltage and short-circuit current density were 0.35 V and 3 mA/Cm/sup 2/. The photoresponse of CuInS/sub 2/ films from chemically deposited Cu-In alloy are considerably inferior.

• Research Organization: Poly Solar, Inc., Garland, TX (USA); Solar Energy Research Inst., Golden, CO (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-83CH10093
• OSTI ID: 6429968
• Report Number(s): SERI/STR-211-3127; ON: DE87001168
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140501* -- Solar Energy Conversion-- Photovoltaic Conversion
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360601 -- Other Materials-- Preparation & Manufacture
CHALCOGENIDES
COPPER COMPOUNDS
COPPER SULFIDE SOLAR CELLS
COPPER SULFIDES
DEPOSITION
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
EFFICIENCY
ELECTRODEPOSITION
ELECTROLYSIS
ELECTROPLATING
EQUIPMENT
FABRICATION
FILMS
INDIUM COMPOUNDS
INDIUM SULFIDES
LYSIS
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
PLATING
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SULFIDES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SURFACE COATING
THIN FILMS
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS