Spray solar cell research: CdS/Cu/sub 2/S cells by ion exchange - CSD. Final report, 1 September 1980-28 February 1981. [Chemical spray deposition]

Technical Report · Thu Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1984

OSTI ID:6928061

Maruska, H P; Young, II, A R

The study was performed to develop a novel chemical spray deposition/ion exchange process for the Cu/sub 2/S/CdS solar cell, defining deposition processes and parameters that would lead to conversion efficiencies over 8%. Work was concentrated mainly in the areas of CdS resistivity and junction formation. The film resistivity was lowered to less than 100 ..cap omega..-cm. Dark mobilities of these films were about 10 cm/sup 2//V-sec, which can increase to about 100 cm/sup 2//V-sec under illumination. An analytical procedure was used for extracting the bulk mobility and carrier concentration at the core of the grains. Apparatus was set up to allow the vacuum evaporation of cuprous halides onto the converted CdS films, followed by in situ vacuum heat treatments. However, all of the finished cells had disappointingly poor characteristics, e.g., the short-circuit currents were low. The best short-circuit current achieved in a CdS/Cu/sub 2/ cell made with converted material was 0.5 mA/cm/sup 2/. The same problem was encountered using high-quality CdS films.

• Research Organization: Exxon Research and Engineering Co., Annandale, NJ (USA). Corporate Research Labs.
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-83CH10093
• OSTI ID: 6928061
• Report Number(s): SERI/STR-211-2280; ON: DE84004490
• 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
ALLOYS
CADMIUM SULFIDE SOLAR CELLS
CARRIER MOBILITY
COPPER SULFIDE SOLAR CELLS
DEPOSITION
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
EFFICIENCY
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
EQUIPMENT
HETEROJUNCTIONS
INDIUM ADDITIONS
INDIUM ALLOYS
ION EXCHANGE
JUNCTIONS
MOBILITY
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
QUANTUM EFFICIENCY
SEMICONDUCTOR JUNCTIONS
SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SPRAY COATING
SURFACE COATING