Efficiency improvement in thin-film solar cell devices with oxygen-containing absorber layer

The CdTe∕CdS solar cell devices were grown using a dry process consisting of sputtering for the transparent conducting oxide and CdS window layers, and close-space sublimation for CdTe absorber layer. These devices were back contacted using Mo∕Sb2Te3 sputtered layers following the CdCl2 activation p...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Applied physics letters 2005-12, Vol.87 (26)
Main Authors: Emziane, M., Durose, K., Halliday, D. P., Bosio, A., Romeo, N.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
ANTIMONY TELLURIDES
CADMIUM CHLORIDES
CADMIUM SULFIDES
CADMIUM TELLURIDES
CHLORINE
DEPOSITION
IMPURITIES
LAYERS
MASS SPECTRA
MASS SPECTROSCOPY
MATERIALS SCIENCE
MOLYBDENUM
OXIDES
OXYGEN
SEMICONDUCTOR MATERIALS
SOLAR CELLS
SPUTTERING
SUBLIMATION
THIN FILMS
VISIBLE RADIATION
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Summary:The CdTe∕CdS solar cell devices were grown using a dry process consisting of sputtering for the transparent conducting oxide and CdS window layers, and close-space sublimation for CdTe absorber layer. These devices were back contacted using Mo∕Sb2Te3 sputtered layers following the CdCl2 activation process carried out in air. It was shown that when oxygen is intentionally introduced in the CdTe layer during its growth, this leads to a significant improvement in all the device parameters yielding an efficiency of 14% compared to 11.5% for devices fabricated in the same conditions but without intentional oxygen incorporation in CdTe. The data obtained were not altered following a light soaking. The devices were investigated by quantitative secondary ion mass spectrometry, which allowed insight into the distribution and amount of oxygen and chlorine within the entire device structure. Both impurities showed an increased concentration throughout the CdTe absorber layer.
ISSN:0003-6951
1077-3118
DOI:10.1063/1.2152108