Structural effects in chemically sprayed CdS/Cu/sub x/S photovoltaic cells

Technical Report · Sun May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1977

OSTI ID:7101415

Berg, R S; Nasby, R D

Cadmium sulfide/copper sulfide photovoltaic devices have shown a great deal of promise for economic power generation. One of the most interesting fabrication techniques for these devices is a chemical spray technique that can be integrated into a float glass substrate plant. This technique utilizes pyrolysis of chemical solutions by spraying onto hot substrates. Here, the structures and morphologies of the various layers of the cell are described and the growth characteristics discussed. The effects of the resulting structures on device properties are discussed. A predominant feature of the CdS film is a complex morphology with small crystallite size. These features are also found in the Cu/sub x/S since it is formed by an ion exchange process into the CdS surface. The resulting structure produces increased ion carrier recombination and thus reduces open circuit voltage, short circuit current, and device efficiency. The junction morphology is also extremely complex, which further reduces the open circuit voltage. Cell efficiencies of 5.5% with open circuit voltages of 0.41 V have been produced.

• Research Organization: Sandia Labs., Albuquerque, NM (USA)
• OSTI ID: 7101415
• Report Number(s): SAND-76-0737
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140501* -- Solar Energy Conversion-- Photovoltaic Conversion
CADMIUM SULFIDE SOLAR CELLS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COPPER COMPOUNDS
COPPER SULFIDES
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE
DECOMPOSITION
DEPOSITION
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ELECTRONIC CIRCUITS
FABRICATION
GLASS
JUNCTIONS
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
PYROLYSIS
SEMICONDUCTOR JUNCTIONS
SOLAR CELLS
SPRAY COATING
SUBSTRATES
SULFIDES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SURFACE COATING
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS