Reactive-sputtered CuInSe sub 2 for photovoltaic applications
Direct exploitation of solar energy is an immediate need for electrical power production. New materials and fabrication techniques have brought the cost of solar cells to within a factor of five of conventional utility systems. One of the materials is CuInSe{sub 2}. It has a very high absorption coefficient. Intrinsic doping forms both n- and p-type conductivity. High-efficiency devices have been formed from polycrystalline films, and these devices demonstrate excellent current collection. One of the new technologies is reactive-magnetron sputtering. Reactive-magnetron sputtering is a vacuum physical-vapor-deposition technique which produces large area thin films at relatively low cost. The deposition in reactive magnetron sputtering is uniform on microscopic and macroscopic scales. The deposition of CuInSe{sub 2} by reactive-magnetron sputtering is novel and unique. The low cost of reactive-magnetron sputtering and the excellent performance of CuInSe{sub 2} may produce competitively priced solar cells. This novel solar-cell fabrication has produced a 6% efficient solar cell. Films with excellent optical and electronic properties were produced.
- Research Organization:
- Missouri Univ., Columbia, MO (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 6960521
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
140501* -- Solar Energy Conversion-- Photovoltaic Conversion
COPPER SELENIDE SOLAR CELLS
DEPOSITION
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
EFFICIENCY
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
EQUIPMENT
FABRICATION
INDIUM SELENIDE SOLAR CELLS
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SPUTTERING