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Improvement of the optical absorption of a photovoltaic device by embedding an ultra-thin film of CdSexTe1–x in its absorber layer

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Abstract

It has been reported with the use of thin films placed in the p-type and n-type layer interface in photovoltaic devices, the short-circuit current density (Jsc) increases, this spite of decreasing the open–circuit voltage (Voc). In this work, in order to increase the light absorbance, and therefore, contribute to an increment in Jsc and Voc, a novel architecture has been proposed by the deposition of a CdSe0.6Te0.4 ultra-thin film placed inside de p-type layer. The proposed structure exhibited an increment in power conversion efficiency compared to another fabricated with the conventional structure.

Graphical abstract

PV device structures. (a) n–p device structure; (b) N–P MLs device structure the interface (c) proposed N–P MLs device structure inside the absorber layer; (d) proposed PV device already deposited structure. (a) (b) CdS layer before and after annealing (c) (d) CdSe layer before and after annealing

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Data availability

All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article.

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Acknowledgments

The Authors would like to thank to the Advance material research center at Monterrey (CIMAV) and Mechanical and electrical engineering faculty at Autonomous University of Nuevo León (FIME-UANL) for allowing the use of equipment and facilities for the development of the present study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Físico Matemáticas, Facultad de Ciencias Físico Matemáticas, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Av. Universidad s/n. Ciudad Universitaria, 66451, San Nicolás de los Garza, Nuevo León, Mexico

    Laura A. Reyes-Verdugo & Francisco Solis-Pomar

  2. Instituto de Ingeniería, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, De la Normal s/n, 21280, Mexicali, Mexico, Mexico

    Carlos Villa-Angulo

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  1. Laura A. Reyes-Verdugo
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  2. Carlos Villa-Angulo
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Correspondence to Francisco Solis-Pomar.

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Reyes-Verdugo, L.A., Villa-Angulo, C. & Solis-Pomar, F. Improvement of the optical absorption of a photovoltaic device by embedding an ultra-thin film of CdSexTe1–x in its absorber layer. MRS Communications 12, 1250–1255 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1557/s43579-022-00303-4

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