Chemical spray pyrolysis of copper indium diselenide/cadmium sulfide solar cells
This dissertation concentrates on Chemical Spray Pyrolysis (CSP) of CuInSe{sub 2} and CdS thin films and solar cells. The primary goal is to gain an understanding of the chemistry and physics of CSP, and apply this knowledge to the fabrication of CuInSe{sub 2}/CdS solar cells. It provide an extensive review of the literature on the properties of CuInSe{sub 2} an CdS produced by CSP and other techniques. The films are characterized by x-ray diffractometry, scanning electron microscopy, electron microprobe, van der Pauw-Hall measurements, and optical absorption spectroscopy, and the devices are characterized electrically in the dark and under illumination. A model for the chemical mechanisms involved in CSP of CdS an CuInSe{sub 2} thin films is developed which is used to point out similarities between the two systems and explain the correlation between spray solution pH and second phases in CuInSe{sub 2} thin films. Structural investigations show that the CuInSe{sub 2} films can be produced in either the ordered or disordered crystal structure, while different substrates radically change the morphology of the films. By taking into account the effect of second phases, the electrical and optical properties of the sprayed films agree with published results for CuInSe{sub 2} produced by other techniques. The properties of the sprayed CdS films in this work are shown to agree with those sprayed by others. The device properties of cells fabricated in both the backwall and reverse backwall configuration are compared with each other and related to the materials properties of the semiconductor layers. The highest efficiency cell employing sprayed CuInSe{sub 2} is reported; however, the efficiency of the cells still need improvement before becoming practical. The dissertation concludes with recommendations for increasing the efficiency of completely sprayed CuInSe{sub 2}/CdS solar cells.
- Research Organization:
- Stanford Univ., CA (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 6347999
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Thesis (Ph.D)
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
COPPER SELENIDE SOLAR CELLS
EFFICIENCY
PYROLYSIS
CHEMICAL PHYSICS
SOLAR CELLS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DECOMPOSITION
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
EQUIPMENT
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
PHYSICS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
140600* - Solar Energy- Photovoltaic Power Systems