Photoelectric properties of ITO/CdS/chlorophyll a/Ag heterojunction solar cells

Journal Article · Thu Oct 31 04:00:00 EST 1991 · Journal of Physical Chemistry; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/j100175a071· OSTI ID:7004282

Segui, J; Hotchandani, S; Baddou, D; Leblanc, R M ^[1]

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1. Univ. du Quebec, Trois-Rivieres (Canada)

The heterojunction ITO/CdS/Chl a/Ag (Chl a = chlorophyll a) solar cells have been prepared by sequential electrodeposition of CdS and Chl a onto conductive indium-tin oxide (ITO) electrode followed by vacuum deposition of Ag, and their photovoltaic studies have been carried out. The dark J-V and photovoltaic characteristics, especially the action spectra, suggest the presence of a barrier at CdS/CFhl a interface. Various photovoltaic parameters of the cells obtained for the incident light power of 20 {mu}W/Cm{sup 2} at 740 nm, the maximum of Chl a absorption in red region, are as follows: J{sub SC} {approx equal} 150-200 nA/cm{sup 2}, V{sub OC} {approx} 0.35-0.40 V, ff = 0.26, and {eta} (%) = 0.17. The measurements performed at three wavelengths, namely, 740, 680, and 560 nm, indicate that the cells (illuminated through CdS electrode) perform better for weakly absorbed light at 560 nm. The results further show that the use of CdS instead of Al as rectifying electrode has definitely led to an improvement in the performance of CdS/Chl a over Al/Chl a cells in terms of the decreased internal resistances, decreased dark current and voltage, increased fill factors, and increased power conversion efficiencies. This has been attributed to the elimination of insulating layer of Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} existing at Al/Chl a interface.

• OSTI ID: 7004282
• Journal Information: Journal of Physical Chemistry; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of Physical Chemistry; (United States) Vol. 95:22; ISSN 0022-3654; ISSN JPCHA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140501* -- Solar Energy Conversion-- Photovoltaic Conversion
CADMIUM COMPOUNDS
CADMIUM SULFIDES
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHLOROPHYLL
DATA
DEPOSITION
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
ELECTRODEPOSITION
ELECTROLYSIS
ELEMENTS
EQUIPMENT
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
HETEROCYCLIC ACIDS
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
HETEROJUNCTIONS
INDIUM COMPOUNDS
INDIUM OXIDES
INFORMATION
INORGANIC PHOSPHORS
JUNCTIONS
LYSIS
METALS
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHOSPHORS
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PHYTOCHROMES
PIGMENTS
PORPHYRINS
PROTEINS
SEMICONDUCTOR JUNCTIONS
SILVER
SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SULFIDES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SURFACE COATING
TIN COMPOUNDS
TIN OXIDES
TRANSITION ELEMENTS