Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-8bljj Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-01T04:59:12.607Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Cadmium Telluride Solar Cells on Molybdenum Substrates

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 March 2011

Ilvydas Matulionis ,
Sijin Han ,
Jennifer A. Drayton ,
Kent J. Price  and
Alvin D. Compaan
Ilvydas Matulionis
Affiliation:
Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, 43606imatuli@physics.utoledo.edu
Sijin Han
Affiliation:
Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, 43606
Jennifer A. Drayton
Affiliation:
Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, 43606
Kent J. Price
Affiliation:
Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, 43606
Alvin D. Compaan
Affiliation:
Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, 43606
Get access

Abstract

We report on the development of Mo/CdTe/CdS/indium-tin-oxide, thin-film solar cells grown by radio-frequency magnetron sputtering. This is an inverted configuration compared to the conventional glass/tin-oxide/CdS/CdTe/metal cells. Molybdenum was chosen as a substrate because its thermal expansion coefficient and the work function are close to those of CdTe. We have achieved AM1.5 conversion efficiencies of 7.8 percent on 0.05 cm2 area devices. Our best cells had a nitrogen-doped ZnTe layer between the molybdenum and the CdTe for a somewhat improved back contact. However, we observe a significant rollover in the IV curve in forward current that indicates a back-diode effect. This implies the need for improvement of the electronic properties of the molybdenum - CdTe and possibly CdS - ITO interfaces.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 668: Symposium H – II-IV Compound Semiconductor Photovoltaic Materials , 2001 , H8.23
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2001

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

REFERENCES

[1] Apr. 9, 2001 E-mail communication, NREL CdTe Team-Xuanzhi Wu and Tim Gessert.Google Scholar
[2] Powell, R.C., Sasala, R., Rich, G., Steele, M., Bihn, K., Reiter, N., Cox, S., and Dorer, G., “Stability testing of CdTe/CdS thin-film photovoltaic modules”, 25th IEEE PVSC; p.785.Google Scholar
[3] Shao, M., Fischer, A., Grecu, D., Jayamaha, U., Bykov, E., Contreras-Puente, G., Bohn, R.G., and Compaan, A.D., “Radio-frequency-magnetron-sputtered CdS/CdTe solar cells on soda-lime glass,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 69, 3045–3047 (1996).Google Scholar
[4] Singh, V.P., McClure, J.C., Lush, G.B., Wang, W., Wang, X., Thompson, G.W., and Clark, E.. Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells 59 (1999) 145–161.Google Scholar
[5] Bube, R.H., “Photovoltaic Materials”, Imperial College Press, 1999.Google Scholar
[6] Drayton, Jennifer, Gupta, Akhlesh, Makhrachev, Konstantin, Price, Kent, Bohn, Randy G., and Compaan, Alvin D., “Properties of RF sputtered ZnTe:N films for back contact to CdS/CdTe solar cells”, MRS April 2001 Meeting.Google Scholar
[7] Makhrachev, K., Price, K.J., Ma, X., Simmons, D.A., Drayton, J., and Compaan, A.D., Proc. NCPV Program Review Meeting (AIP Conf. Proc.), April 16-19, 2000.Google Scholar
[8] Diana Shvydka, Price, K.J., Compaan, A.D., “Absorption and photoluminescence studies of lightly alloyed CdTe(S) and CdS(Te), MRS April 2001 Meeting.Google Scholar
[9] Compaan, A.D., Feng, Z., Contreras-Puente, G., Narayanswamy, C., and Fischer, A., Mat. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc. 426, 367 (1996)Google Scholar
[10] Compaan, A.D., Deng, X., Bohn, R.G., “High Efficiency Thin Film CdTe and a-Si Based Solar Cells”, Annual Report, 2000 [http://www.nrel.gov/publications/]Google Scholar