Thin-film photovoltaic partnership -- Apollo{reg{underscore}sign} thin film process development: Phase 1 Technical Report, May 1998--April 1999

Technical Report · Tue Oct 26 00:00:00 EDT 1999

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/752527· OSTI ID:752527

Cunningham, D W; Skinner, D E

The objective of this Phase 1 subcontract was to establish an efficient production plating system capable of depositing thin-film CdTe and CdS on substrates up to 0.55 m{sup 2}. This baseline would then be used to build on and extend deposition areas to 0.94 m{sup 2} in the next two phases. The following achievements have been demonstrated: {sm{underscore}bullet} Chemical-bath deposition of CdS and electrochemical deposition of CdTe was demonstrated on 0.55 m{sup 2} substrates. The films were characterized using optical and electrical techniques, to increase the understanding of the materials and aid in loss analysis. {sm{underscore}bullet} A stand-alone, prototype CdTe reaction tank was built and commissioned, allowing the BP Solar team to perform full-scale trials as part of this subcontract. {sm{underscore}bullet} BP Solar installed two outdoor systems for reliability and performance testing. {sm{underscore}bullet} The 2-kW, ground-mounted, grid-connected system contains seventy-two 0.43-m{sup 2} Apollo{reg{underscore}sign} module interconnects. {sm{underscore}bullet} Two modules have been supplied to NREL for evaluation on their Performance and Energy Rating Test bed (PERT) for kWh evaluation. {sm{underscore}bullet} BP Solar further characterized the process waste stream with the aim to close-loop the system. Currently, various pieces of equipment are being investigated for suitability of particle and total organic compound removal.

• Research Organization: National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: US Department of Energy (US)
• DOE Contract Number: AC36-99GO10337
• OSTI ID: 752527
• Report Number(s): NREL/SR-520-26948; TRN: AH200006%%93
• Resource Relation: Other Information: PBD: 26 Oct 1999
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
14 SOLAR ENERGY
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
CADMIUM TELLURIDES
CADMIUM SULFIDES
CHEMICAL COATING
THIN FILMS
TEST FACILITIES
WASTE MANAGEMENT
MANUFACTURING
CADMIUM TELLURIDE SOLAR CELLS
CADMIUM SULFIDE SOLAR CELLS
PRODUCTIVITY
PHOTOVOLTAICS
PV
THIN-FILM PHOTOVOLTAIC PARTNERSHIP
THIN FILMS PROCESS DEVELOPMENT
CDTE
CDS
LASER PROCESSING
APOLLO{reg{underscore}sign}