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High-Performance Barrier Layers for Flexible CIGS Thin-Film Solar Cells on Metal Foils

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 2011

Dirk Herrmann ,
Friedrich Kessler ,
Konrad Herz ,
Michael Powalla ,
Andreas Schulz ,
Joachim Schneider  and
Uwe Schumacher
Dirk Herrmann
Affiliation:
Zentrum fuer Sonnenenergie- und Wasserstoff-Forschung Baden-Wuerttemberg Industriestr. 6, D-70565 Stuttgart, Germany
Friedrich Kessler
Affiliation:
Zentrum fuer Sonnenenergie- und Wasserstoff-Forschung Baden-Wuerttemberg Industriestr. 6, D-70565 Stuttgart, Germany
Konrad Herz
Affiliation:
Zentrum fuer Sonnenenergie- und Wasserstoff-Forschung Baden-Wuerttemberg Industriestr. 6, D-70565 Stuttgart, Germany
Michael Powalla
Affiliation:
Zentrum fuer Sonnenenergie- und Wasserstoff-Forschung Baden-Wuerttemberg Industriestr. 6, D-70565 Stuttgart, Germany
Andreas Schulz
Affiliation:
Institut fuer Plasmaforschung, Universitaet Stuttgart, Pfaffenwaldring 31, D-70569 Stuttgart, Germany
Joachim Schneider
Affiliation:
Institut fuer Plasmaforschung, Universitaet Stuttgart, Pfaffenwaldring 31, D-70569 Stuttgart, Germany
Uwe Schumacher
Affiliation:
Institut fuer Plasmaforschung, Universitaet Stuttgart, Pfaffenwaldring 31, D-70569 Stuttgart, Germany
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Abstract

Cu(In, Ga)Se2 (CIGS) solar cells have been fabricated on different metal foil substrates. Preferred foils with regard to costs and physical properties were stainless steel, titanium and Kovar® (Fe/Ni/Co alloy). SiOx films prepared by PECVD and sol/gel methods were deposited as barrier layers on these metal foil substrates. Both film types showed good suitability as diffusion barriers for substrate elements. In the SiOx:Na (sol/gel) barrier sodium could be incorporated to provide the Na-supply to the CIGS absorber. With relatively low sodium concentrations in these films (6% Na2O) large amounts of Na in the absorber have been found. Using a combination of SiOx (PECVD) and SiOx:Na (sol/gel) layers AM 1.5 cell efficiencies of 13.1% on titanium foil substrates have been achieved. With a newly implemented insulation test based on electrolysis measurements pinholes in the barrier layers could be localized and conclusions on their origin could be drawn.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 763: Symposium B – Compound Semiconductor Photovoltaics , 2003 , B6.10
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2003

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