CdS/CdTe solar cells containing directly deposited CdSxTe1-x alloy layers : preprint /
| Corporate Authors: | , |
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| Other Authors: | |
| Format: | Government Document Conference Proceeding eBook |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Golden, CO :
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
[2011]
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| Series: | Conference paper (National Renewable Energy Laboratory (U.S.)) ;
5200-50755. |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://purl.fdlp.gov/GPO/gpo15631 |
| Abstract: | A CdSxTe1-x layer forms by interdiffusion of CdS and CdTe during the fabrication of thin-film CdTe photovoltaic (PV) devices. The CdSxTe1-x layer is thought to be important because it relieves strain at the CdS/CdTe interface that would otherwise exist due to the 10% lattice mismatch between these two materials. Our previous work [1] has indicated that the electrical junction is located in this interdiffused CdSxTe1-x region. Further understanding, however, is essential to predict the role of this CdSxTe1-x layer in the operation of CdS/CdTe devices. In this study, CdSxTe1-x alloy films were deposited by radio-frequency (RF) magnetron sputtering and co-evaporation from CdTe and CdS sources. Both RF-magnetron-sputtered and co-evaporated CdSxTe1-x films of lower S content (x<0.3) have a cubic zincblende (ZB) structure akin to CdTe, whereas those of higher S content have a hexagonal wurtzite (WZ) structure like that of CdS. Films become less preferentially oriented as a result of a CdCl2 heat treatment (HT) at 4̃00 degrees C for 5 min. Films sputtered in a 1% O2/Ar ambient are amorphous as deposited, but show CdTe ZB, CdS WZ, and CdTe oxide phases after a CdCl2 HT. Films sputtered in O2 partial pressure have a much wider bandgap than expected. This may be explained by nanocrystalline size effects seen previously [2] for sputtered oxygenated CdS (CdS:O) films. Initial PV device results show that the introduction of a directly-deposited CdSxTe1-x alloy layer into the device structure produces devices of comparable performance to those without the alloy layer when a CdCl2 HT is performed. Further investigation is required to determine whether the CdCl2 heat treatment step can be altered or eliminated through direct deposition of the alloy layer. |
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| Item Description: | Title from title screen (viewed Oct. 17, 2011). "July 2011." "Presented at the 37th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (PVSC 37), Seattle, Washington, June 19-24, 2011." Electronic resource. |
| Physical Description: | 1 online resource (6 pages) : illustrations |
| Format: | Full text available via Internet in .pdf format. Adobe Acrobat Reader required. |
| Bibliography: | Includes bibliographical references. |