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Title: Electrochemical photovoltaic cells CdSe thin film electrodes. Final report, June 1979-June 1980

Abstract

Progress on developing stable, thin-film CdSe electrodes with sunlight conversion efficiency of 10% for use with aqueous polysulfide electrolytes in frontwall and backwall illuminated EPCs is reported. The main effort has been directed towards establishing the relationships among thin-film processing, resultant electronic properties and I-V performance in order to produce electrodes with maximum power conversion efficiency. The most encouraging results have been obtained with CdSe thin-film electrodes produced in two ways for frontwall cells. Films were deposited on titanium at approximately 100/sup 0/C with a high Se/Cd ratio and then heat treated in air at 350 to 400/sup 0/C. These films usually have a very fine grained microstructure after heat treatment and the resultant electrodes exhibit fairly square I-V characteristics with fill factors of 0.6 or greater and high current output. The overall power efficiency of these electrodes is limited by relatively low output voltages. At present, power conversion efficiencies of 3 to 5% can be obtained reproducibly at simulated AM2 conditions with electrodes processed in this manner. The second type of film that has yielded very promising results is deposited on titanium at substrate temperatures greater than 400/sup 0/C. The interesting feature of these electrodes is their increased openmore » circuit voltage. However, the current output and fill factor are lower. As a result, the power conversion efficiency of these electrodes is 3 to 4%. Backwall electrodes with an efficiency of greater than 4% and short circuit densities near theoretical for AM2 conditions have been produced.« less

Authors:
; ; ;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Grumman Aerospace Corp., Bethpage, NY (USA). Research Dept.
OSTI Identifier:
6601861
Alternate Identifier(s):
OSTI ID: 6601861
Report Number(s):
SERI/TR-8002-8-T1
DOE Contract Number:
AC02-77CH00178
Resource Type:
Technical Report
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
14 SOLAR ENERGY; CADMIUM SELENIDES; ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES; VAPOR PLATING; PHOTOELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS; ELECTRODES; ABSORPTIVITY; EFFICIENCY; ELECTRIC CURRENTS; ELECTRIC POTENTIAL; EVAPORATION; FILL FACTORS; FILMS; HEAT TREATMENTS; PERFORMANCE; SPECTRAL RESPONSE; CADMIUM COMPOUNDS; CHALCOGENIDES; CURRENTS; DEPOSITION; ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS; EQUIPMENT; OPTICAL PROPERTIES; PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS; PHYSICAL PROPERTIES; PLATING; SELENIDES; SELENIUM COMPOUNDS; SOLAR EQUIPMENT; SURFACE COATING 140505* -- Solar Energy Conversion-- Photochemical, Photobiological, & Thermochemical Conversion-- (1980-)

Citation Formats

Russak, M.A., Reichman, J., DeCarlo, J., and Creter, C. Electrochemical photovoltaic cells CdSe thin film electrodes. Final report, June 1979-June 1980. United States: N. p., 1980. Web. doi:10.2172/6601861.
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Russak, M.A., Reichman, J., DeCarlo, J., & Creter, C. Electrochemical photovoltaic cells CdSe thin film electrodes. Final report, June 1979-June 1980. United States. doi:10.2172/6601861.
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Russak, M.A., Reichman, J., DeCarlo, J., and Creter, C. Tue . "Electrochemical photovoltaic cells CdSe thin film electrodes. Final report, June 1979-June 1980". United States. doi:10.2172/6601861. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/6601861.
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@article{osti_6601861,
title = {Electrochemical photovoltaic cells CdSe thin film electrodes. Final report, June 1979-June 1980},
author = {Russak, M.A. and Reichman, J. and DeCarlo, J. and Creter, C.},
abstractNote = {Progress on developing stable, thin-film CdSe electrodes with sunlight conversion efficiency of 10% for use with aqueous polysulfide electrolytes in frontwall and backwall illuminated EPCs is reported. The main effort has been directed towards establishing the relationships among thin-film processing, resultant electronic properties and I-V performance in order to produce electrodes with maximum power conversion efficiency. The most encouraging results have been obtained with CdSe thin-film electrodes produced in two ways for frontwall cells. Films were deposited on titanium at approximately 100/sup 0/C with a high Se/Cd ratio and then heat treated in air at 350 to 400/sup 0/C. These films usually have a very fine grained microstructure after heat treatment and the resultant electrodes exhibit fairly square I-V characteristics with fill factors of 0.6 or greater and high current output. The overall power efficiency of these electrodes is limited by relatively low output voltages. At present, power conversion efficiencies of 3 to 5% can be obtained reproducibly at simulated AM2 conditions with electrodes processed in this manner. The second type of film that has yielded very promising results is deposited on titanium at substrate temperatures greater than 400/sup 0/C. The interesting feature of these electrodes is their increased open circuit voltage. However, the current output and fill factor are lower. As a result, the power conversion efficiency of these electrodes is 3 to 4%. Backwall electrodes with an efficiency of greater than 4% and short circuit densities near theoretical for AM2 conditions have been produced.},
doi = {10.2172/6601861},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1980},
month = {Tue Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1980}
}
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Technical Report:
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DOI:  10.2172/6601861
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