Effect of buffer layer composition and surface features on large area and high efficiency CuInxGa1−xSe2 solar cells

Author

Kumar, T.P. ; Maeng Jun Kim ; Hojung Jeong ; Sehyun Hwang ; Tarwal, N.L. ; Yon Kil Jeong ; Jae Hyung Jang

Author_Institution

Res. Inst. for Solar & Sustainable Energies (RISE), Gwangju Inst. of Sci. & Technol. (GIST), Gwangju, South Korea

fYear

2013

fDate

16-21 June 2013

Firstpage

1992

Lastpage

1995

Abstract

CuIn_xGa_1-xSe₂ (CIGS) solar cell junction properties were tailored by altering the buffer layer properties by chemical bath deposition method. An efficiency of > 12% was observed in large area of 5 cm². Thickness of the CdS buffer layer was measured by cross-view scanning electron microscopy. CdS buffer layer condition was optimized after several attempts made and was found to be the CIGS solar cell performance was mainly influenced by CdS buffer layer composition ratio. The effect of CdS buffer layer surface morphology, composition, optical transmittance and thickness oriented CIGS solar cell efficiency are presented and discussed.

Keywords

copper compounds; elemental semiconductors; gallium compounds; indium compounds; liquid phase deposition; scanning electron microscopy; selenium compounds; solar cells; ternary semiconductors; thickness measurement; CIGS solar cell junction properties; CuIn_xGa_1-xSe₂; cadmium sulfide buffer layer morphology; cadmium sulfide buffer layer optical transmittance; cadmium sulfide buffer layer surface composition feature effect; cadmium sulfide buffer layer surface feature effect; cadmium sulfide buffer layer thickness measurement; chemical bath deposition method; cross-view scanning electron microscopy; high efficiency copper indium gallium diselenide solar cells; Buffer layers; Chemicals; Optical buffering; Photovoltaic cells; Surface morphology; Surface treatment; Zinc oxide; Buffer layer; CdS; Chemical bath deposition (CBD); Copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS); Solar cells;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (PVSC), 2013 IEEE 39th

Conference_Location

Tampa, FL

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/PVSC.2013.6744862

Filename

6744862