Stable high-efficiency CuInSe/sub 2/-based polycrystalline thin-film tandem solar cells: Annual subcontract report, 16 March 1985-15 March 1986
Progress was made in the development of CdTe and CuInSe/sub 2/ heterojunctions for use in a tandem solar cell configuration. An essential feature of the CdTe cell is that both contacts to the cell must be highly transparent to wavelengths beyond the CdTe band edge. A suitable contacting system has been developed using transparent conducting oxides such as ITO along with a thin layer of copper. Efficiencies for the CdTe cells have improved during the year; continued progress is anticipated. Development of the CuInSe/sub 2/ cell has focused on raising the efficiency of small cells (3 x3 mm/sup 2/) and transferring the technology to 1-cm/sup 2/ cells. The small cells were repeatably made with efficiencies between 10% and 11%; up to 8% was achieved with 1-cm/sup 2/ cells. It has been demonstrated that the CuInSe/sub 2/ composition can vary over a considerable range, at least +-1.5%, and still yield cells of high efficiency. A preliminary process design was carried out for the production of two- and four-terminal tandem cells based on CdTe and CuInSe/sub 2/. Key areas requiring further laboratory development were identified.
- Research Organization:
- Delaware Univ., Newark (USA). Inst. of Energy Conversion; Solar Energy Research Inst., Golden, CO (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC02-83CH10093
- OSTI ID:
- 6980779
- Report Number(s):
- SERI/STR-211-3068; ON: DE87001128
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Stable, high-efficiency, CuInSe/sub 2/-based polycrystalline thin-film tandem solar cells. Semiannual subcontract report, 16 March 1985-15 September 1985
Stable high-efficiency CuInSe/sub 2/-based polycrystalline thin-film tandem solar cells. Semiannual report, March 16-September 15, 1984
Related Subjects
140501* -- Solar Energy Conversion-- Photovoltaic Conversion
CADMIUM TELLURIDE SOLAR CELLS
COPPER SELENIDE SOLAR CELLS
CRYSTALS
DESIGN
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
EFFICIENCY
ELECTRIC CONTACTS
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
FILMS
HETEROJUNCTIONS
JUNCTIONS
PERFORMANCE
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
POLYCRYSTALS
SEMICONDUCTOR JUNCTIONS
SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
STABILITY
THIN FILMS