Skip to main content
Log in

Electrochemical synthesis of cu-doped znte films as back contacts to cdte solar cells

  • Published:
Metals and Materials Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Electrochemical deposition of Cu-doped ZnTe films was investigated as a back contact material for CdTe solar cells. The deposition system consisted of a potentiostat, a substrate (cathode), a Pt counter electrode, and an Ag/AgCl reference electrode. Experimental conditions were pH=2.5∽4, deposition temperature=70 ∽80°C, electrolyte concentration=0.02 M Zn2, 10-4 M TeO2, and deposition potential (Va) = -0.85 ∽ -1.0 V vs Ag/AgCl A cyclic voltammogram obtained from an ITO substrate showed a ZnTe reduction peak at Va = -0 7 ∽ -0 9 V A film obtained at pH=2.5, Va=-0.975 V showed the strongest ZnTe X-ray diffraction peak, but its surface morphology was not as smooth as the films made under the condition of pH=3∽4, Va=-0.950V. Triethanolamine did not form a complex with cu2 in acidic solution as needed for uniform Cu-doping, but oxalate anion and 1,10-phenanthrolme did at pH=2∽3. The efficiency of CdTe solar cells increased from 3.4% to 7.1% when Cu-doped ZnTe film was used as the back contact.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. P. J. George, P. K. Sanchez, P. K. Nair and M. T. S. Nair,Appl. Phys. Lett. 66, 3624(1995)

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. U. M. K. Shahed and Z. Shimm,J. Elctrochem. Soc. 142, 2539(1995)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. G. Potter Jr., J. H. Simmons, P. Kamur and J. Stanton,J. Appl. Phys. 75, 8039 (1994)

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. J. H. Bae, D. Kim, Y. I. Kim and K. J. Kim,Bull. Kor. Chem. Soc. 18, 567(1997)

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. P.V. Meyers,Solar. Cells. 27, 91(1989)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. H. Ohyama, T. Aramoto, S. Kumazawa, H. Higuchi T. Anta, S. Shibutani, T. Nishio, J. Nakajima, M. Tsuji, A. Hanafusa, T. Hidmo, K. Omura and M. Murozono, in26th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference Proceedings (ed., A. Rohatgi) p. 343, IEEE Electron Devices Society, Anaheim, California, USA (1997)

    Google Scholar 

  7. A. Niemegeers and M. Burgelman,J. Appl. Phys. 81, 2881 (1997)

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. P. Bhattacharya, inSemiconductor Optoelectronics Devices (ed., P. Bhattacharya), p. 194, Newsersy, USA (1997)

    Google Scholar 

  9. L. Feng, J. Mao, J. Tang, R. T. Collins and J. U. Trefny,J.0 of Electronic. Materials. 25, 1422 (1996)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. T. A. Gessert, A. R. Mason, P. Sheldon, A. B. Swartz lander, D. Niles and T. J. Courts,J. Vac. Sci. Tech. A. 14, 806 (1996)

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. S. M. Neumann and C. Konigstem,Thin Solid Films 265, 3 (1995).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. S. M. Natarajan, M. Sharon and S. M. Neumann,Thin Solid Films 237, 118 (1994).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. K. K. Mishra and K. Rajeshwar,J. Electroanal. Chem. 273, 169 (1989).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. O. Melo, L. Hemadez, O. Zelaya, R. Lozada and M. Bercerril,Appl. Phys. Lett. 65, 1278 (1994).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  15. D. Kim, B. Qi, D. L. Williamson, J. U. Trefny, inProc. 1st World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion (ed., J. D. Meakin), p. 338, IEEE Electron Devices Society, Waikoloa, Hawaii, USA (1994).

    Google Scholar 

  16. I. Kaur, D. K. Pandya, K. L. Chopra,J. Electrochem. Soc,127, 943(1980).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. J. Y. Choi, K. J. Kim and D. Kim,Metals and Materials 3 256 (1997).

    Google Scholar 

  18. M. S. Lee, J. Y. Huh and D. Kim,Korean J. of Materials Research 3, 256 (1997)

    Google Scholar 

  19. D. Harns, inQuantitative Chemical Analysis (ed., D. Hams), p. 379, Freeman, New York, USA (1995)

    Google Scholar 

  20. D. Kim, Y. Jun and J. Kim,Korean J. Mater. Res. 7, 856 (1997)

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. D. T. Sawyer, A. Sobkowiak and J. L. Roberts Jr., inElectrochemistry for Chemists (eds., D. T. Sawyer, A. Sobkowiak and J. L. Roberts Jr.), p. 57, John Wiley & Sons Inc., New York, USA (1995)

    Google Scholar 

  22. A. Mondai, E. McCandless, R. W. Birkmire,Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells 26, 181 (1992)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. D. I. Choi,M. D. Thesis, Dept. of Metallurgical Eng., Korea Univ., Korea (1998)

  24. Y. V. Pleskov and Y. Y. Gurevich, inSemiconductor Photoelectrochemistry (eds., Y. V. Pleskov and Y. Y. Gurevich), p. 239, A. N. Frumkm Institute, Moscow, Russia (1980)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Jun, Y., Kim, KJ. & Kim, D. Electrochemical synthesis of cu-doped znte films as back contacts to cdte solar cells. Metals and Materials 5, 279–285 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03026080

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03026080

Key words

Navigation