Optimization of Processing and Modeling Issues for Thin Film Solar Cell Devices Including Concepts for The Development of Polycrystalline Multijunctions: Annual Report; 24 August 1998-23 August 1999

Technical Report · Fri Aug 25 00:00:00 EDT 2000

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/763480· OSTI ID:763480

Birkmire, R W; Phillips, J E; Shafarman, W N; Eser, E; Hegedus, S S; McCandless, B E ^[1]

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1. Institute of Energy Conversion

This report describes results achieved during phase 1 of a three-phase subcontract to develop and understand thin-film solar cell technology associated to CuInSe{sub 2} and related alloys, a-Si and its alloys, and CdTe. Modules based on all these thin films are promising candidates to meet DOE long-range efficiency, reliability, and manufacturing cost goals. The critical issues being addressed under this program are intended to provide the science and engineering basis for the development of viable commercial processes and to improve module performance. The generic research issues addressed are: (1) quantitative analysis of processing steps to provide information for efficient commercial-scale equipment design and operation; (2) device characterization relating the device performance to materials properties and process conditions; (3) development of alloy materials with different bandgaps to allow improved device structures for stability and compatibility with module design; (4) development of improved window/heterojunction layers and contacts to improve device performance and reliability; and (5) evaluation of cell stability with respect to illumination, temperature, and ambient and with respect to device structure and module encapsulation.

• 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: 763480
• Report Number(s): NREL/SR-520-28783; TRN: AH200033%%178
• Resource Relation: Other Information: PBD: 25 Aug 2000
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
CADMIUM TELLURIDE SOLAR CELLS
SILICON SOLAR CELLS
INDIUM SELENIDE SOLAR CELLS
COPPER SELENIDE SOLAR CELLS
PERFORMANCE
FABRICATION
ENERGY GAP
STABILITY
PHOTOVOLTAICS
THIN FILM SOLAR CELL DEVICES
PROCESSING AND MODELING
POLYCRYSTALLINE MULTIJUNCTIONS
CUINSE2-BASED SOLAR CELLS
A-SI-BASED SOLAR CELLS
CDTE-BASED SOLAR CELLS
CDS/CDTE SOLAR CELLS
THIN FILM PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM