"Sims and μ-Raman Spectroscopic Studies in CdS/CdTe based solar cells"

We present results on secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) and mu-Raman spectroscopy measurements, carried out in each one of the layers conforming the CdTe based solar cells of the type: soda-lime glass/SnO₂:F/CdS/CdTe/Cu:Au, in order to get the atomic and vibrational characteristics of the different layers and their correlation, with the use of the several processing steps of the cell fabrication, and their influence on the performance of the solar cell. CdS layers were deposited by chemical bath deposition (CBD), whereas the CdTe layers were grown by closed space vapor transport (CSVT). According to the standard fabrication process, the window layer (CdS) and the absorber layer (CdTe) are submitted to post-thermal treatments of CdCl ₂ after each semiconductor layer deposition. With this type of solar-cell we have been able to reach solar-cells efficiencies close to 13%