Atomic-Resolution Study of Grain Boundaries in CdTe Using Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy
Abstract
CdTe is one of the most promising photovoltaic materials due to its near optimum band gap and a high absorption coefficient. However, the efficiencies of both champion poly-crystalline CdTe photovoltaic cells as well as production line modules are still significantly below the theoretical Shockley-Queisser limit of ~30%. Reduction of non-radiative recombination at grain boundaries is believed to be the key to improving the efficiency of polycrystalline CdTe-based solar cells. Here, atomistic-level characterization, including scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) and first principles density functional theory (DFT) modeling, is crucial in developing a fundamental understanding of how grain boundaries affect the solar cells’ efficiency.
- Authors:
-
- Univ. of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL (United States)
- Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
- Univ. of Texas at Dallas, Dallas, TX (United States)
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- Univ. of Illinois, Chicago, IL (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Renewable Power Office. Solar Energy Technologies Office
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1576760
- Grant/Contract Number:
- EE0007545
- Resource Type:
- Accepted Manuscript
- Journal Name:
- Microscopy and Microanalysis
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Volume: 24; Journal Issue: S1; Conference: Microscopy and Microanalysis 2018; Journal ID: ISSN 1431-9276
- Publisher:
- Microscopy Society of America (MSA)
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 14 SOLAR ENERGY; CdTe; STEM
Citation Formats
Guo, Jinglong, Sen, Fatih G., Wang, Luhua, Nam, Seungjin, Kim, Moon, Chan, Maria K. Y., and Klie, Robert F. Atomic-Resolution Study of Grain Boundaries in CdTe Using Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy. United States: N. p., 2018.
Web. doi:10.1017/S1431927618001009.
Guo, Jinglong, Sen, Fatih G., Wang, Luhua, Nam, Seungjin, Kim, Moon, Chan, Maria K. Y., & Klie, Robert F. Atomic-Resolution Study of Grain Boundaries in CdTe Using Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy. United States. doi:10.1017/S1431927618001009.
Guo, Jinglong, Sen, Fatih G., Wang, Luhua, Nam, Seungjin, Kim, Moon, Chan, Maria K. Y., and Klie, Robert F. Wed .
"Atomic-Resolution Study of Grain Boundaries in CdTe Using Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy". United States. doi:10.1017/S1431927618001009. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1576760.
@article{osti_1576760,
title = {Atomic-Resolution Study of Grain Boundaries in CdTe Using Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy},
author = {Guo, Jinglong and Sen, Fatih G. and Wang, Luhua and Nam, Seungjin and Kim, Moon and Chan, Maria K. Y. and Klie, Robert F.},
abstractNote = {CdTe is one of the most promising photovoltaic materials due to its near optimum band gap and a high absorption coefficient. However, the efficiencies of both champion poly-crystalline CdTe photovoltaic cells as well as production line modules are still significantly below the theoretical Shockley-Queisser limit of ~30%. Reduction of non-radiative recombination at grain boundaries is believed to be the key to improving the efficiency of polycrystalline CdTe-based solar cells. Here, atomistic-level characterization, including scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) and first principles density functional theory (DFT) modeling, is crucial in developing a fundamental understanding of how grain boundaries affect the solar cells’ efficiency.},
doi = {10.1017/S1431927618001009},
journal = {Microscopy and Microanalysis},
number = S1,
volume = 24,
place = {United States},
year = {2018},
month = {8}
}
Works referenced in this record:
Atomic scale study of polar Lomer–Cottrell and Hirth lock dislocation cores in CdTe
journal, September 2014
- Paulauskas, Tadas; Buurma, Christopher; Colegrove, Eric
- Acta Crystallographica Section A Foundations and Advances, Vol. 70, Issue 6
Atomic and electronic structure of Lomer dislocations at CdTe bicrystal interface
journal, June 2016
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Detailed Balance Limit of Efficiency of p‐n Junction Solar Cells
journal, March 1961
- Shockley, William; Queisser, Hans J.
- Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 32, Issue 3, p. 510-519
Works referencing / citing this record:
Effect of selenium and chlorine co-passivation in polycrystalline CdSeTe devices
journal, October 2019
- Guo, Jinglong; Mannodi-Kanakkithodi, Arun; Sen, Fatih G.
- Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 115, Issue 15