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Comparison of cadmium sulfide thin films deposited on glass and polyethylene terephthalate substrates with thermal evaporation for solar cell applications

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Abstract

Cadmium sulfide (CdS) thin films have been deposited onto glass and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrates at room temperature with thermal evaporation in a vacuum of about 3 × 10−5 Torr for use as window materials for solar cells. Effects of substrate types on the structural and optical characteristics of the films were studied. Sets of experiments were conducted to optimize the deposition of CdS films with appropriate deposition parameters. The deposited films were analyzed with atomic force microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray, X-ray diffraction and optical transmittance measurements to determine their structural and optical characteristics. X-ray diffraction patterns confirm the proper phase formation of the CdS. PET substrate exhibited the larger roughness than that for the glass because of large particles adsorbed on the PET substrate. The average transmittance of the films PET is about 71% and increases up to 81% for glass substrate.

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Acknowledgments

This project was supported by the Nano-Optoelectronic Research Laboratory (NOR) of the School of Physics, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) under Grant No. 305/PFIZIK/613321. M. G. Faraj wishes to thank the Ministry of Higher Education of the Kurdistan Regional Government/Iraq and the University of Koya/Iraq for awarding him a scholarship to pursue his PhD abroad.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nano-Optoelectronics Research and Technology Laboratory (N.O.R), School of Physics, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800, Penang, Malaysia

    M. G. Faraj & K. Ibrahim

  2. Faculty of Health and Sciences, Department of Physics, School of Sciences, University of Koya, Koya, Kurdistan Region, Iraq

    M. G. Faraj

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  1. M. G. Faraj
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  2. K. Ibrahim
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Correspondence to M. G. Faraj.

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Faraj, M.G., Ibrahim, K. Comparison of cadmium sulfide thin films deposited on glass and polyethylene terephthalate substrates with thermal evaporation for solar cell applications. J Mater Sci: Mater Electron 23, 1219–1223 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-011-0576-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-011-0576-6

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