Effects of CdS film thickness on the photovoltaic properties of sintered CdS/CdTe solar cells

Journal Article · Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1987 · J. Electrochem. Soc.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1149/1.2100417· OSTI ID:6616688

Lee, J S; Jun, Y K; Im, H B

All polycrystalline CdS/CdTe heterojunction solar cells with various thicknesses of CdS film were prepared by the coating and sintering method in an attempt to optimize the thickness of the sintered CdS film whose role is to be the window as well as the front contact for the CdS/CdTe solar cell. The thickness of the CdS films was varied from 14 to 55 ..mu..m by changing the screen mesh size of a screen printer and the solid-liquid ratio of the slurry which consisted of CdS powder, 9 weight percent CdCl/sub 2/ and propylene glycol. Average grain size of the sintered CdS films increases and porosity decreases with an increase in film thickness. Electrical resistivity of the sintered CdS films shows a minimum value in 35 ..mu..m thick film. Highest optical transmission is observed in 20 ..mu..m thick CdS film. The CdCl/sub 2/ remaining in the CdS film after the sintering causes an increase in the thickness of the CdS/sub 1-x/Te/sub x/ solid solution layer, acting as a sintering aid, at the interface between the CdS and the CdTe films. The combination of the optical transmission, the solid solution layer, and the sheet resistance effects resulted in the highest solar efficiency in a CdS/CdTe heterojunction solar cell with 20 ..mu..m thick CdS layer.

• Research Organization: Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Cheongryang, Seoul
• OSTI ID: 6616688
• Journal Information: J. Electrochem. Soc.; (United States), Vol. 134:1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
CADMIUM SULFIDE SOLAR CELLS
FABRICATION
CADMIUM SULFIDES
COATINGS
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
SINTERING
CADMIUM TELLURIDE SOLAR CELLS
CADMIUM TELLURIDES
CADMIUM CHLORIDES
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
ENERGY GAP
GLYCOLS
GRADED BAND GAPS
HETEROJUNCTIONS
OPTIMIZATION
POLYCRYSTALS
POWDERS
PROPYLENE
THICKNESS
THIN FILMS
ALCOHOLS
ALKENES
CADMIUM COMPOUNDS
CADMIUM HALIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHLORIDES
CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
CRYSTALS
DIMENSIONS
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
EFFICIENCY
EQUIPMENT
FILMS
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
INORGANIC PHOSPHORS
JUNCTIONS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PHOSPHORS
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
SEMICONDUCTOR JUNCTIONS
SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SULFIDES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
TELLURIDES
TELLURIUM COMPOUNDS
140501* - Solar Energy Conversion- Photovoltaic Conversion
360601 - Other Materials- Preparation & Manufacture
360603 - Materials- Properties