Efficiency increased to 15.2% for ultra-thin Cu(In,Ga)Se2 solar cells

Mansfield, Lorelle M.; Kanevce, Ana; Harvey, Steven P.; Bowers, Karen A.; Beall, Carolyn L.; Glynn, Stephen; Repins, Ingrid L.

doi:10.1002/pip.3033

Title: Efficiency increased to 15.2% for ultra-thin Cu(In,Ga)Se₂ solar cells

Abstract

Abstract We improved the efficiency of ultra‐thin (0.49‐μm‐thick) Cu(In,Ga)Se ₂ solar cells to 15.2% (officially measured). To achieve these results, we modified growth conditions from the 3‐stage process but did not add post‐deposition treatments or additional material layers. The increase in device efficiency is attributed to a steeper Ga gradient in the CIGS with higher Ga content near the Mo back contact, which can hinder electron‐hole recombination at the interface. We discuss device measurements and film characterization for ultra‐thin CIGS. Modeling is presented that shows the route to even higher efficiencies for devices with CIGS thicknesses of 0.5 μm.

Authors:

^[1]; Kanevce, Ana ^[1];

^[1]; Bowers, Karen A. ^[1]; Beall, Carolyn L. ^[1]; Glynn, Stephen ^[1]; Repins, Ingrid L. ^[1]

National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)

Publication Date:: Tue Jun 19 00:00:00 EDT 2018

Research Org.:: National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Renewable Power Office. Solar Energy Technologies Office

OSTI Identifier:: 1479872

Alternate Identifier(s):: OSTI ID: 1455074

Report Number(s):: NREL/JA-5K00-70468
Journal ID: ISSN 1062-7995

Grant/Contract Number:: AC36-08GO28308

Resource Type:: Accepted Manuscript

Journal Name:: Progress in Photovoltaics

Additional Journal Information:: Journal Volume: 26; Journal Issue: 11; Journal ID: ISSN 1062-7995

Publisher:: Wiley

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

Subject:: 14 SOLAR ENERGY; 36 MATERIALS SCIENCE; Cu(In,Ga)Se2; CIGS; photovoltaic cells; thin films; semiconductor device modeling; current-voltage characteristics

Citation Formats


                    Mansfield, Lorelle M., Kanevce, Ana, Harvey, Steven P., Bowers, Karen A., Beall, Carolyn L., Glynn, Stephen, and Repins, Ingrid L. Efficiency increased to 15.2% for ultra-thin Cu(In,Ga)Se2 solar cells.  United States: N. p., 2018. 
Web.  doi:10.1002/pip.3033.

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                    Mansfield, Lorelle M., Kanevce, Ana, Harvey, Steven P., Bowers, Karen A., Beall, Carolyn L., Glynn, Stephen, & Repins, Ingrid L. Efficiency increased to 15.2% for ultra-thin Cu(In,Ga)Se2 solar cells.  United States.  https://doi.org/10.1002/pip.3033

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                    Mansfield, Lorelle M., Kanevce, Ana, Harvey, Steven P., Bowers, Karen A., Beall, Carolyn L., Glynn, Stephen, and Repins, Ingrid L. Tue .  
"Efficiency increased to 15.2% for ultra-thin Cu(In,Ga)Se2 solar cells".  United States.  https://doi.org/10.1002/pip.3033.  https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1479872.

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@article{osti_1479872,

  title        = {Efficiency increased to 15.2% for ultra-thin Cu(In,Ga)Se2 solar cells},

  author       = {Mansfield, Lorelle M. and Kanevce, Ana and Harvey, Steven P. and Bowers, Karen A. and Beall, Carolyn L. and Glynn, Stephen and Repins, Ingrid L.},

  abstractNote = {Abstract We improved the efficiency of ultra‐thin (0.49‐μm‐thick) Cu(In,Ga)Se 2 solar cells to 15.2% (officially measured). To achieve these results, we modified growth conditions from the 3‐stage process but did not add post‐deposition treatments or additional material layers. The increase in device efficiency is attributed to a steeper Ga gradient in the CIGS with higher Ga content near the Mo back contact, which can hinder electron‐hole recombination at the interface. We discuss device measurements and film characterization for ultra‐thin CIGS. Modeling is presented that shows the route to even higher efficiencies for devices with CIGS thicknesses of 0.5 μm.},

  doi          = {10.1002/pip.3033},

  journal      = {Progress in Photovoltaics},

  number       = 11,

  volume       = 26,

  place        = {United States},

  year         = {Tue Jun 19 00:00:00 EDT 2018},

  month        = {Tue Jun 19 00:00:00 EDT 2018}

}

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https://doi.org/10.1002/pip.3033

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Cited by: 45 works

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Works referenced in this record:

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Title: Efficiency increased to 15.2% for ultra-thin Cu(In,Ga)Se2 solar cells

Abstract

Citation Formats

Figures / Tables:

Band-gap grading in Cu(In,Ga)Se2 solar cells journal, November 2005

CuInSe2 phase formation during Cu2Se/In2Se3 interdiffusion reaction journal, April 2000

The impact of reducing the thickness of electrodeposited stacked Cu/In/Ga layers on the performance of CIGS solar cells journal, April 2017

An assessment of metal supply sustainability as an input to policy: security of supply extraction rates, stocks-in-use, recycling, and risk of scarcity journal, January 2017

Optical functions of chalcopyrite CuGaxIn1-xSe2 alloys journal, May 2002

Enhanced performance of ultra-thin Cu(In,Ga)Se2 solar cells deposited at low process temperature journal, January 2015

High‐efficiency CuIn x Ga 1− x Se 2 solar cells made from (In x ,Ga 1− x ) 2 Se 3 precursor films journal, July 1994

Predicting Ga and Cu Profiles in Co-Evaporated Cu(In,Ga)Se 2 Using Modified Diffusion Equations and a Spreadsheet journal, January 2017

Cu deficiency in multi-stage co-evaporated Cu(In,Ga)Se2 for solar cells applications: Microstructure and Ga in-depth alloying journal, May 2010

Influence of Varying Cu Content on Growth and Performance of Ga-Graded Cu(In,Ga)Se 2 Solar Cells journal, November 2015

Bandgap optimization of submicron-thick Cu(In,Ga)Se 2 solar cells : Bandgap optimization of submicron-thick Cu(In,Ga)Se journal, August 2014

Gallium diffusion and diffusivity in CuInSe 2 epitaxial layers journal, December 1996

Ultrathin Cu(In,Ga)Se 2 based solar cells journal, July 2017

Review on light management by nanostructures in chalcopyrite solar cells journal, March 2017

Effect of Reduced Cu(InGa)(SeS)$_{\bm 2}$ Thickness Using Three-Step H$_{\bm 2}$Se/Ar/H$_{\bm 2}$S Reaction of Cu–In–Ga Metal Precursor journal, January 2013

Employing Si solar cell technology to increase efficiency of ultra-thin Cu(In,Ga)Se 2 solar cells : Employing Si solar cell technology journal, July 2014

Optimization of CBD CdS process in high-efficiency Cu(In,Ga)Se2-based solar cells journal, February 2002

High efficiency graded bandgap thin-film polycrystalline Cu(In,Ga) Se2-based solar cells journal, June 1996

A one-dimensional Fickian model to predict the Ga depth profiles in three-stage Cu(In,Ga)Se 2 journal, May 2014

A new approach to high-efficiency solar cells by band gap grading in Cu(In,Ga)Se2 chalcopyrite semiconductors journal, March 2001

Progress toward 20% efficiency in Cu(In,Ga)Se2 polycrystalline thin-film solar cells journal, July 1999

Ion migration in chalcopyrite semiconductors journal, December 1992

Title: Efficiency increased to 15.2% for ultra-thin Cu(In,Ga)Se₂ solar cells

Band-gap grading in Cu(In,Ga)Se2 solar cells
journal, November 2005

CuInSe2 phase formation during Cu2Se/In2Se3 interdiffusion reaction
journal, April 2000

The impact of reducing the thickness of electrodeposited stacked Cu/In/Ga layers on the performance of CIGS solar cells
journal, April 2017

An assessment of metal supply sustainability as an input to policy: security of supply extraction rates, stocks-in-use, recycling, and risk of scarcity
journal, January 2017

Optical functions of chalcopyrite CuGa_xIn_1-xSe₂ alloys
journal, May 2002

Enhanced performance of ultra-thin Cu(In,Ga)Se2 solar cells deposited at low process temperature
journal, January 2015

High‐efficiency CuIn _x Ga _{1− x} Se ₂ solar cells made from (In _x ,Ga _{1− x} ) ₂ Se ₃ precursor films
journal, July 1994

Predicting Ga and Cu Profiles in Co-Evaporated Cu(In,Ga)Se ₂ Using Modified Diffusion Equations and a Spreadsheet
journal, January 2017

Cu deficiency in multi-stage co-evaporated Cu(In,Ga)Se2 for solar cells applications: Microstructure and Ga in-depth alloying
journal, May 2010

Influence of Varying Cu Content on Growth and Performance of Ga-Graded Cu(In,Ga)Se ₂ Solar Cells
journal, November 2015

Bandgap optimization of submicron-thick Cu(In,Ga)Se ₂ solar cells : Bandgap optimization of submicron-thick Cu(In,Ga)Se
journal, August 2014

Gallium diffusion and diffusivity in CuInSe ₂ epitaxial layers
journal, December 1996

Ultrathin Cu(In,Ga)Se 2 based solar cells
journal, July 2017

Review on light management by nanostructures in chalcopyrite solar cells
journal, March 2017

Effect of Reduced Cu(InGa)(SeS)$_{\bm 2}$ Thickness Using Three-Step H$_{\bm 2}$Se/Ar/H$_{\bm 2}$S Reaction of Cu–In–Ga Metal Precursor
journal, January 2013

Employing Si solar cell technology to increase efficiency of ultra-thin Cu(In,Ga)Se ₂ solar cells : Employing Si solar cell technology
journal, July 2014

Optimization of CBD CdS process in high-efficiency Cu(In,Ga)Se₂-based solar cells
journal, February 2002

High efficiency graded bandgap thin-film polycrystalline Cu(In,Ga) Se2-based solar cells
journal, June 1996

A one-dimensional Fickian model to predict the Ga depth profiles in three-stage Cu(In,Ga)Se ₂
journal, May 2014

A new approach to high-efficiency solar cells by band gap grading in Cu(In,Ga)Se2 chalcopyrite semiconductors
journal, March 2001

Progress toward 20% efficiency in Cu(In,Ga)Se₂ polycrystalline thin-film solar cells
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Ion migration in chalcopyrite semiconductors
journal, December 1992