Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

IN2S3:Ag, an ideal buffer layer for thin film solar cells

  • Published:
Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Silver diffusion enhanced the properties of Indium sulfide (In2S3) films making it highly suitable buffer layer for photovoltaic applications. Thin layer of silver deposited over In2S3 films diffused into In2S3 films in ‘as-deposited’ condition itself creating doping effect. A significant enhancement in crystallinity and grain size could be obtained up to an optimum percentage of doping concentration. This optimum value showed dependence on thickness and atomic ratio of indium and sulfur in the film. Band gap decreased up to the optimum value of doping and thereafter it increased. Electrical studies showed a decrease in resistivity due to doping. Sample having the optimum doping was found to be more photosensitive and low resistive when compared with the pristine sample. These results proved that silver diffused indium sulfide surpasses pristine sample for crystallinity and photosensitivity. Doping β-In2S3 film with optimum amount of silver modified the structural and electrical properties of the films favorably so that the Ag electrodes given to the ITO/CuInS2/In2S3 cell structure itself acted as a doping agent for the In2S3 layer, enhancing the cell efficiency to 9.5% (John et al. Sol Energy Mater Sol Cells 89:27, 2005).

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

Access this article

Log in via an institution

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

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. M. Amlouk, M.A. Ben Said, N. Kamoun, S. Belgacem, N. Brunet, D. Barjon, Jpn. J. Appl. Phys, Part 1 38, 26 (1999)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. P. O’ Brien, D.J. Octway, J.R. Walsh, Thin Solid Films 315, 57 (1998)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. N. Naghavi, S. Spiering, M. Powalla, B. Cavana, D. Linco, Prog. Photovolt: Res. Appl. 11, 437–443 (2003)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. K. Kambas, J. Spyridelis, M. Balkanski, Phys. Status Solidi B 105, 291 (1981)

    Article  CAS  ADS  Google Scholar 

  5. M. Rehwald, G. Harbeke, J. Phys. Chem. Solids 26, 1309 (1965)

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. E. Dalas, L. Kobotiatis, J. Mater. Sci. 28, 6595 (1993)

    Article  CAS  ADS  Google Scholar 

  7. K. Hara, K. Sayama, H. Arakawa, Sol. Energy Mater. Sol. Cells 62, 441 (2000)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. R.S. Becker, T. Zheng, J. Elton, M. Saeki, Sol. Energy Mater. 13, 97 (1986)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. W.T. Kim, W.S. Lee, C.S. Chung, C.D. Kim, J. Appl. Phys. 63(11), 5472 (1988)

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. N. Kamoun, S. Belgacem, M. Amlouk, R. Bennaceur, J. Bonnet, F. Touhari, M. Nouaoura, L. Lassabatere, J. Appl. Phys. 89(5), 2766 (2001)

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. N. Barreau, J.C. Bernede, C. Deudon, L. Brohan, S. Marsillac, J. Cryst. Growth 241, 4 (2002)

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. T.T. John, M. Mathew, C. Sudha Kartha, K.P. Vijayakumar, T. Abe, Y. Kashiwaba, Sol. Energy Mater. Sol. Cells 89, 27 (2005)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. T.T. John, S. Bini, Y. Kashiwaba, T. Abe, Y. Yasuhiro, C. Sudha Kartha, K.P. Vijayakumar, Semicond. Sci. Technol. 18, 491 (2003)

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. S.-H. Yu, L. Shu, Y.-S. Wu, J. Yang, Y. Xie, Y.-T. Qian, J. Am. Ceram. Soc. 82(2), 457 (1999)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. L. Bhira, H. Essaidi, S. Belgacem, G. Couturier, J. Salardenne, N. Barreau, J.C. Bernede, Phys. Status Solidi A 181, 427 (2000)

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. J. George, K.S. Joseph, B. Pradeep, T.I. Palson, Phys. Status Solidi A 106, 123 (1988)

    Article  CAS  ADS  Google Scholar 

  17. V.G. Bessergenev, Inorg. Mater. 32(6), 592 (1996)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Cochin, 682 022, India

    Meril Mathew, C. Sudha Kartha & K. P. Vijayakumar

Authors
  1. Meril Mathew
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. C. Sudha Kartha
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. K. P. Vijayakumar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to K. P. Vijayakumar.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Mathew, M., Sudha Kartha, C. & Vijayakumar, K.P. IN2S3:Ag, an ideal buffer layer for thin film solar cells. J Mater Sci: Mater Electron 20 (Suppl 1), 294–298 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-008-9591-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-008-9591-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation