Title: Influences of buffer material and fabrication atmosphere on the electrical properties of CdTe solar cells

Abstract

Abstract The electrical properties such as interface energy barriers, defect energy levels, and densities dictate the performance of thin film solar cells. Here, we show that these properties can be quantified in cadmium telluride (CdTe) thin‐film solar cells using admittance spectroscopy‐based techniques. Our results reveal that the electrical properties in CdTe thin‐film solar cells depend on both buffer material and the fabrication atmosphere. We find that only a negligible front contact barrier exists at the CdS/CdTe front junction regardless of the fabrication atmospheres, while an obvious front barriers are observed at the ZnMgO (ZMO)/CdTe junctions. Both CdS/CdTe and ZMO/CdTe solar cells exhibit back contact barrier. The energy level of defects is shallower in CdS/CdTe cells than in ZMO/CdTe cells. The fabrication atmosphere influences the electrical properties, i.e., an oxygen‐free atmosphere reduces the front and back barrier heights and lowers the energy level of defects. The results provide critical insights for understanding and optimizing the performance of CdTe thin‐film solar cells.

Authors:

Awni, Rasha A.  ^[1];

• Search DOE PAGES for author "Awni, Rasha A."
• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0002-5971-0934"

Li, Deng‐Bing  ^[2];

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• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0003-4555-4894"

Song, Zhaoning  ^[2];

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• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0002-6677-0994"

Bista, Sandip S.  ^[2];

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• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0003-0162-8468"

Razooqi, Mohammed A.  ^[2];

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• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0001-5567-5927"

Grice, Corey R.  ^[2];

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• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0002-0841-5943"

Chen, Lei  ^[2];

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• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0003-2206-9140"

Liyanage, Geethika K.  ^[2];

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• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0003-4000-0729"

Li, Chongwen  ^[2];

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• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0001-8514-190X"

Phillips, Adam B.  ^[2];

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• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0002-2675-5052"

Heben, Michael J.  ^[2];

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• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0002-3788-3471"

Ellingson, Randy J.  ^[2];

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• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0001-9520-6586"

Li, Jian V.  ^[3];

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• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0003-3623-3044"

Yan, Yanfa  ^[2]

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• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0003-3977-5789"

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+ Show Author Affiliations

1. Department of Physics and Astronomy, and Wright Center for Photovoltaics Innovation and Commercialization (PVIC) University of Toledo Toledo Ohio USA, Department of Physics, College of Education for Pure Sciences Tikrit University Tikrit Salahuddin Iraq
2. Department of Physics and Astronomy, and Wright Center for Photovoltaics Innovation and Commercialization (PVIC) University of Toledo Toledo Ohio USA
3. Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics National Cheng Kung University Tainan Taiwan

Publication Date:

Wed Sep 11 00:00:00 EDT 2019

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE

OSTI Identifier:

1561355

Resource Type:

Publisher's Accepted Manuscript

Journal Name:

Progress in Photovoltaics

Additional Journal Information:

Journal Name: Progress in Photovoltaics Journal Volume: 27 Journal Issue: 12; Journal ID: ISSN 1062-7995

Publisher:

Wiley Blackwell (John Wiley & Sons)

Country of Publication:

United Kingdom

Language:

English