Electrochemical photovoltaic cells CdSe thin film electrodes. Final report, June 1979-June 1980

Technical Report · Tue Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1980

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6601861· OSTI ID:6601861

Russak, M. A.; Reichman, J.; DeCarlo, J.; Creter, C.

Progress on developing stable, thin-film CdSe electrodes with sunlight conversion efficiency of 10% for use with aqueous polysulfide electrolytes in frontwall and backwall illuminated EPCs is reported. The main effort has been directed towards establishing the relationships among thin-film processing, resultant electronic properties and I-V performance in order to produce electrodes with maximum power conversion efficiency. The most encouraging results have been obtained with CdSe thin-film electrodes produced in two ways for frontwall cells. Films were deposited on titanium at approximately 100/sup 0/C with a high Se/Cd ratio and then heat treated in air at 350 to 400/sup 0/C. These films usually have a very fine grained microstructure after heat treatment and the resultant electrodes exhibit fairly square I-V characteristics with fill factors of 0.6 or greater and high current output. The overall power efficiency of these electrodes is limited by relatively low output voltages. At present, power conversion efficiencies of 3 to 5% can be obtained reproducibly at simulated AM2 conditions with electrodes processed in this manner. The second type of film that has yielded very promising results is deposited on titanium at substrate temperatures greater than 400/sup 0/C. The interesting feature of these electrodes is their increased open circuit voltage. However, the current output and fill factor are lower. As a result, the power conversion efficiency of these electrodes is 3 to 4%. Backwall electrodes with an efficiency of greater than 4% and short circuit densities near theoretical for AM2 conditions have been produced.

• Research Organization: Grumman Aerospace Corp., Bethpage, NY (USA). Research Dept.
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-77CH00178
• OSTI ID: 6601861
• Report Number(s): SERI/TR-8002-8-T1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
CADMIUM SELENIDES
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
VAPOR PLATING
PHOTOELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
ELECTRODES
ABSORPTIVITY
EFFICIENCY
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL
EVAPORATION
FILL FACTORS
FILMS
HEAT TREATMENTS
PERFORMANCE
SPECTRAL RESPONSE
CADMIUM COMPOUNDS
CHALCOGENIDES
CURRENTS
DEPOSITION
ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
EQUIPMENT
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PLATING
SELENIDES
SELENIUM COMPOUNDS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SURFACE COATING
140505* - Solar Energy Conversion- Photochemical
Photobiological
& Thermochemical Conversion- (1980-)