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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
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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

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References

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