Title :
Investigations into alternative substrate, absorber and buffer layer processing for Cu(In,Ga)Se2-based solar cells
Author :
Tuttle, John R. ; Berens, T.A. ; Keane, J. ; Ramanathan, K.R. ; Granata, J. ; Bhattacharya, R.N. ; Wiesner, H. ; Contreras, M.A. ; Noufi, R.
Author_Institution :
Nat. Renewable Energy Lab., Golden, CO, USA
Abstract :
High-performance Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGS) based solar cells are fabricated within a narrow range of processing options. In this contribution, alternative substrate, absorber, and buffer layer processing is considered. Cell performance varies considerably when alternative substrates are employed. These variations are narrowed with the addition of Na via a Na2S compound. Sputtered and electrodeposited CIGS precursors and completed absorbers show promise as alternatives to evaporation. A recrystallization process is required to improve their quality. (In,Ga)ySe buffer layers contribute to cell performance above 10%. Further improvements in these alternatives will lead to combined cell performance greater than 10% in the near term
Keywords :
copper compounds; electrodeposits; indium compounds; recrystallisation; semiconductor thin films; solar cells; sputtered coatings; ternary semiconductors; (In,Ga)ySe buffer layers; (InGa)Se; Cu(In,Ga)Se2-based solar cells; Cu(InGa)Se2; Na addition; Na2S; Na2S compound; absorber processing; buffer layer processing; combined cell performance; electrodeposited precursors; recrystallization process; sputtered precursors; substrate processing; Buffer layers; Chemicals; Fabrication; Glass; Heterojunctions; Laboratories; Photovoltaic cells; Renewable energy resources; Sputtering; Substrates;
Conference_Titel :
Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, 1996., Conference Record of the Twenty Fifth IEEE
Conference_Location :
Washington, DC
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-3166-4
DOI :
10.1109/PVSC.1996.564248
