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Title: Research on High-Efficiency, Large-Area, CuInSe2-Based Thin-Film Modules: Annual Subcontract Report, 1 May 1992 - 15 August 1993

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/10114891· OSTI ID:10114891

This report describes work to demonstrate 12.5% aperture efficient, large-area (3900-cm{sup 2}) encapsulated thin-film CuInSe{sub 2} (CIS) photovoltaic modules. Module design consists of 53 series-connected ZnO/CdS/CIS/Mo/glass cells fabricated on a 4141-cm{sup 2} (128.6 {times} 32.2 cm) glass substrate with a nominal aperture area of 3895 cm{sup 2} (127.3 {times} 30.6 cm). Four CIS modules were shipped to NREL under the terms of the subcontract. Phase 2 consisted of fabricating large-area (3900-cm{sup 2}) modules for high-performance module processing. The large-area parts proved to be cumbersome, and we decided to use smaller substrates (100 cm{sup 2}) to accelerate the progress in solving the types of technical challenges that were discovered in processing large-area parts, and then to apply these solutions to larger areas to meet the objectives of the investigation. Most critical issues determining module yield losses can be grouped into three major categories: (1) Uniformity and reproducibility of the absorber formation process dominates the fundamental performance of the material over a large area, (2) interaction of the substrate with the Mm requires appropriate selection criterial and preparation techniques for minimizing defects that lead to shunting and areas of poor photoresponse, and (3) performance losses near interconnects reduce module performance and can cause inadequate performance through module durability testing.

Research Organization:
National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
DOE Contract Number:
AC36-08GO28308
OSTI ID:
10114891
Report Number(s):
NREL/TP-413-6216; ON: DE94000259; BR: WM1020000
Resource Relation:
Other Information: PBD: Jan 1994
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English