Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-m6dg7 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-17T19:21:39.404Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

TEM Studies of High-Efficiency CdTe Solar Cells on Commercial SnO2/Soda-Lime Glass

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 2011

Yanfa Yan ,
X. Wu ,
J. Zhou  and
M.M. Al-Jassim
Yanfa Yan
Affiliation:
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO 80401, USA
X. Wu
Affiliation:
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO 80401, USA
J. Zhou
Affiliation:
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO 80401, USA
M.M. Al-Jassim
Affiliation:
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO 80401, USA
Get access

Abstract

The microstructure of high-efficiency CdTe solar cells on commercial SnO2/soda-lime glass was investigated by scanning transmission electron microscopy. The CdTe solar cells have a structure of soda-lime glass/SnO2/ZTO/CdS:O/CdTe. We found no interdiffusion between the SnO2 layer and ZTO layer. Weak diffusion of Zn from the ZTO layer into the CdS:O layer was observed; however, the diffusion was not uniform. Interdiffusion also occurred at the CdTe/CdS:O interface. In the back-side of the CdTe, a thin layer of Te was found, which formed during the nitric-phosphoric etching. In addition, a very thin layer of CdHgTe was observed at the CdTe/Te interface.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 865: Symposium F – Thin-Film Compound Semiconductor Photovoltaics , 2005 , F5.8
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2005

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1 Wu, X. and Zhou, J., Proceedings of 19th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference, p1721–1724, (2004).Google Scholar
2 McCandless, B.E. and Hegedus, S.S., Proceedings of 22nd IEEE PVSC, (1991), 967.Google Scholar
3 Wu, X., Dhere, R.G., Yan, Y., Romero, M.J., Zhang, Y., Zhou, J., DeHart, C., Duda, A., Perkins, C., and Bo, T., Proceedings of 29th IEEE PVSC, (2002), 531.Google Scholar
4 Wu, X., Yan, Y., Dhere, R.G., Zhang, Y., Zhou, J., Perkins, C., and Bo, T., Proceedings of 11th International Conference on II-VI Compounds, (2003), 1062.Google Scholar
5 Yan, Y., Albin, D., and Al-Jassim, M.M., Appl. Phys. Lett. 78, 171 (2001).Google Scholar
6 Yan, Y., Jones, K.M., Wu, X., and Al-Jassim, M.M., Thin Solid Films 472, 291 (2005).Google Scholar