A photoemission investigation of the SnO[sub 2]/CdS interface: A front contact interface study of CdS/CdTe solar cells

Journal Article · Sat May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1993 · Journal of Applied Physics; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.352748· OSTI ID:6890229

Niles, D W ^[1]; Rioux, D; Hoechst, H ^[2]

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1. National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 1617 Cole Boulevard, Golden, Colorado 80401-3393 (United States)
2. Sychrotron Radiation Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 3731 Schneider Drive, Stoughton, Wisconsin 53589-3097 (United States)

A frequently used front contact in CdS/CdTe heterojunction solar cells is SnO[sub 2]. We have performed a soft x-ray synchrotron radiation photoemission investigation of the formation and thermal stability of the SnO[sub 2]/CdS interface in an attempt to understand how device processing influences this interface. The most important results are that (1) the CdS and SnO[sub 2] do not interact chemically, even after annealing to 400 [degree]C, (3) the first [similar to]16 A CdS deposited on polycrystalline SnO[sub 2] grows in a layer-by-layer mode, (3) subsequent CdS layers agglomerate, forming a topologically rough surface, (4) diffusion of Sn, Cd, and S across the interface does not occur, (5) annealing a CdS thin film grown at room temperature on SnO[sub 2] to 400 [degree]C enhances the agglomeration, and (6) the near coincidence of the conduction-band minimum across the interface facilitates ohmic contact between [ital n]-type CdS and [ital n]-type SnO[sub 2].

• DOE Contract Number: AC02-83CH10093
• OSTI ID: 6890229
• Journal Information: Journal of Applied Physics; (United States), Vol. 73:9; ISSN 0021-8979
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
14 SOLAR ENERGY
CADMIUM SULFIDE SOLAR CELLS
INTERFACES
CADMIUM TELLURIDE SOLAR CELLS
ANNEALING
DIFFUSION
N-TYPE CONDUCTORS
PHOTOEMISSION
SYNCHROTRON RADIATION
TIN OXIDES
X RADIATION
BREMSSTRAHLUNG
CHALCOGENIDES
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
EMISSION
EQUIPMENT
HEAT TREATMENTS
IONIZING RADIATIONS
MATERIALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
RADIATIONS
SECONDARY EMISSION
SEMICONDUCTOR MATERIALS
SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
TIN COMPOUNDS
360606* - Other Materials- Physical Properties- (1992-)
140501 - Solar Energy Conversion- Photovoltaic Conversion