A low-cost non-toxic post-growth activation step for CdTe solar cells

Nature

Volumn 511, Issue 7509, 2014, Pages 334-337

  Major, J D ^a   Treharne, R E ^a   Phillips, L J ^a   Durose, K ^a  

^a UNIVERSITY OF LIVERPOOL   (United Kingdom)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

CADMIUM; CADMIUM DERIVATIVE; CADMIUM TELLURIDE; CHLORIDE; MAGNESIUM CHLORIDE; OXYGEN; POTASSIUM CHLORIDE; SODIUM CHLORIDE; UNCLASSIFIED DRUG;

CHLORIDE; COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS; DIFFUSION; ENVIRONMENTAL RISK; FUEL CELL; MANUFACTURING; PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT; POWER GENERATION;

ARTICLE; COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS; DENSITY; DIFFUSION; DOPING; ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT; FILM; LABORATORY; PRIORITY JOURNAL; SOLAR CELL TECHNOLOGY; SOLAR ENERGY;

UNITED STATES;

EID: 84904420453     PISSN: 00280836     EISSN: 14764687     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1038/nature13435     Document Type: Article

References (26)

1. Green, M. A., Emery, K., Hishikawa, Y., Warta, W. & Dunlop, E. D. Solar cell efficiency tables (version 43). Prog. Photovolt. Res. Appl. 22, 1-9 (2014).
2. Zweibel, K. The impact of tellurium supply on cadmium telluride photovoltaics. Science 328, 699-701 (2010).
3. McCandless, B. E., Moulton, L. V. & Birkmire, R. W. Recrystallization and sulfur diffusion in CdCl2-treated CdTe/CdS thin films. Prog. Photovolt. Res. Appl. 5, 249-260 (1997).
4. Moutinho, H. R. et al. Studies of recrystallization of CdTe thin films after CdCl2 treatment. In Conference Record of the Twenty Sixth IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (Anaheim, California) 431-434 (IEEE, 1997).
5. Edwards, P. R., Galloway, S. A. & Durose, K. EBIC and luminescence mapping of CdTe/CdS solar cells. Thin Solid Films 372, 284-291 (2000).
6. Basol, B. M., Ou, S. S. & Stafsudd, O. M. Type conversion, contacts, and surface effects in electroplated CdTe-films. J. Appl. Phys. 58, 3809-3813 (1985).
7. Fthenakis, V. M. & Kim, H. C. CdTe photovoltaics: life cycle environmental profile and comparisons. Thin Solid Films 515, 5961-5963 (2007).
8. Mazzamuto,S. et al. A study of the CdTe treatment with a freon gas such asCHF2Cl. Thin Solid Films 516, 7079-7083 (2008).
9. Balarew, C. Solubilities in seawater-type systems-some technical and environmental friendly applications. Pure Appl. Chem. 65, 213-218 (1993).
10. Liu, Z. S. & Chang, S. K. C. Optimal coagulant concentration, soymilk and tofu quality as affected by a short-term model storage of proto soybeans. J. Food Process. Preserv. 32, 39-59 (2008).
11. Demtsu, S. H. & Sites, J. R. Effect of back-contact barrier on thin-film CdTe solar cells. Thin Solid Films 510, 320-324 (2006).
12. Drayton, J., Geisthardt, R., Raguse, J. & Sites, J. R. Metal chloride passivation treatments for CdTe solar cells. Mater. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc. 1538, 269-274 (2013).
13. Waters, D. et al. Surface analysis of CdTe after various pre-contact treatments. In Proceedings of the 2nd World Conference and Exhibition of Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conversion 1031-1034 (European Commission Joint Research Centre, 1995).
14. Bätzner, D. L., Oszan, M. E., Bonnet, D. & Bucher, K. Device analysis methods for physical cell parameters of CdTe/Cds solar cells. Thin Solid Films 361/362, 288-292 (2000).
15. Fahrenbruch, A. L. Exploring back contact technology to increase CdS/CdTe solar cell efficiency. Mater. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc. 1012, abstr. 1012-Y07-05 (2007).
16. Kosyachenko, L. & Toyama, T. Current-voltage characteristics and quantum efficiency spectra of efficient thin-filmCdS/CdTe solar cells. Sol. Energy Mater. Sol. Cells 120, 512-520 (2014).
17. Proskuryakov, Y. Y. et al. Doping levels, trap density of states and the performance of co-doped CdTe(As,Cl) photovoltaic devices. Sol. Energy Mater. Sol. Cells 93, 1572-1581 (2009).
18. Burgelman, M., Nollet, P.&Degrave, S. Electronic behaviour of thin-filmCdTe solar cells. Appl. Phys. A 69, 149-153 (1999).
19. Li, J. V. et al. Theoretical analysis of effects of deep level, back contact, and absorber thickness on capacitance-voltage profiling of CdTe thin-film solar cells. Sol. Energy Mater. Sol. Cells 100, 126-131 (2012).
20. Tyan, Y. S., Vazan, F. & Barge, S. Effect of oxygen on thin-film CdS/CdTe solar cells. In Conference Record of the Twenty Sixth IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (Kissimmee, Florida) 840-845 (IEEE, 1984).
21. Wu, X. et al. Nanostructured CdS: O film: preparation, properties, and application. In 11th International Conference on II-VI Compounds Proceedings 1062-1066 (Wiley-VCH, 2004).
22. Barth, K. L., Enzenroth, R. A.&Sampath, W. S. Consistent processing and long term stability of CdTe devices. In Conference Record of the Twenty First IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (Lake Buena Vista, Florida) 323-326 (IEEE, 2005).
23. Major, J. D., Proskuryakov, Y. Y. & Durose, K. Impact of CdTe surface composition on doping and device performance in close space sublimation deposited CdTe solar cells. Prog. Photovolt. Res. Appl. 21, 436-443 (2013).
24. Blood, P. & Orton, J. The Electrical Characterisation of Semiconductors: Majority Carriers and Electron States 220-264 (Academic, 1992).
25. Kobyakov, P. S., Geisthardt, R., Cote, T. & Sampath, W. S. Growth and characterization of Cd12 xMgxTe thin films for possible application in highefficiency solar cells. In Conference Record of the Twenty Sixth IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (Austin, Texas) 160-163 (IEEE, 2012).
26. Hsiao. K-J. & Sites, J. R. Electron reflector to enhance photovoltaic efficiency: application to thin-film CdTe solar cells. Prog. Photovolt. Res. Appl. 20, 486-489 (2012).