Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Close-space sublimation grown CdS window layers for CdS/CdTe thin-film solar cells

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

Abstract

We report on the synthesis and characterization of CdS window layers grown by close-space sublimation (CSS) method for CdS/CdTe thin-film solar cells. Comparing with CdS window layers grown by other methods such as sputtering and chemical bath deposition, CSS-grown CdS layers can facilitate the consumption of CdS layers and suppress the diffusion of Te into CdS window layers. CSS-grown CdS layers exhibit much larger grains with faceted morphology. Due to large grains, CSS CdS layers must be grown thick enough to minimize the effects of pin-holes. The use of thicker CdS layer causes reduced blue response, resulting in current loss. Therefore, the thickness of CSS CdS window layer must be carefully optimized to achieve high efficiency. Our best small area dot cell using a CSS CdS window layer has exhibited a cell efficiency of about 14.2 % with an open circuit voltage (VOC) of 806 mV, a short circuit current (JSC) of 25.2 mA/cm2, and a fill factor (FF) of 69.8 % under AM1.5 illumination and without an antireflection coating, slightly lower than our best reference cell using a sputtered CdS window layer (VOC = 845 mV, JSC = 24.5 mA/cm2, FF = 76.8 %, and efficiency = 15.8 %).

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
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. M.A. Green, K. Emery, Y. Hishikawa, W. Warta, E.D. Dunlop, Prog. Photovolt. Res. Appl. 21, 827 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. M.A. Green, K. Emery, Y. Hishikawa, W. Warta, E.D. Dunlop, Prog. Photovolt. Res. Appl. 20, 12 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. B.E. McCandless, J.R. Sites, in Handbook of Photovoltaic Science and Engineering, ed. by A. Luque, S. Hegedus (Wiley, New York, 2003), pp. 617–662

    Google Scholar 

  4. T.L. Chu, S.S. Chu, Prog. Photovolt. Res. Appl. 1, 31 (1993)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. M. Shao, A. Fischer, D. Grecu, U. Jayamaha, E. Bykov, G. Contreras-Puente, R.G. Bohn, A.D. Compaan, Appl. Phys. Lett. 69, 3045 (1996)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. C.S. Ferekides, U. Balasubramanian, R. Mamazza, V. Viswanathan, H. Zhao, D.L. Morel, Sol. Energy 77, 823 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. J.L. Boone, S.A. Howard, D.D. Martin, Thin Solid Films 176, 143 (1989)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. X. Wu, Sol. Energy 77, 803 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. B.E. McCandless, W.A. Buchanan, in Proceedings of 33rd IEEE PVSC, San Diego, CA, (2008), pp. 134–139

  10. N.R. Paudel, A.D. Compaan, Y. Yan, Sol. Energy Mater. Sol. Cells 113, 26 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. N. Romeo, A. Bosio, V. Canevari, A. Podesta, Sol. Energy 77, 795 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. G. Pérez-Hernández, J. Pantoja-Enríquez, B. Escobar-Morales, D. Martinez-Hernández, L.L. Díaz-Flores, C. Ricardez-Jiménez, N.R. Mathews, X. Mathew, Thin Solid Films 535, 154 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. J. Schaffner, M. Motzko, A. Tueschen, A. Swirschuk, H.J. Schimper, A. Klein, T. Modes, O. Zywitzki, W. Jaegermann, J. Appl. Phys. 110, 64508 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. A.R. Davies, J.R. Sites, R.A. Enzenroth, W.S. Sampath, K.L. Barth, Proc. Mater. Res. Soc. 1012, 157 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. N.R. Paudel, Y. Yan, Thin Solid Films 549, 30 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. O. Vigil-Galán, A. Morales-Acevedo, F. Cruz-Gandarilla, M.G. Jiménez-Escamilla, J. Aguilar-Hernández, G. Contreras-Puente, J. Sastré-Hernández, E. Sánchez-Meza, M.L. Ramón-Garcia, Thin Solid Films 515, 6085 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. J. Barker, S.P. Binns, D.R. Johnson, R.J. Marshall, S. Oktik, M.E. Ozsan, M.H. Patterson, S.J. Ransome, S. Roberts, M. Sadeghi, J.M. Sherborne, A.K. Turner, J.M. Woodcock, Int. J. Sol. Energy 12, 79 (1992)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. H. Khallaf, I.O. Oladeji, G. Chai, L. Chow, Thin Solid Films 516, 7306 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. A. Gupta, K. Allada, S.H. Lee, A.D. Compaan, Proc. Mater. Res. Soc. 763, 341 (2003)

    Google Scholar 

  20. M.D. Abramoff, P.J. Magalhaes, S.J. Ram, Biophotonics Int. 11, 36 (2004)

    Google Scholar 

  21. R.A. Enzenroth, K.L. Barth, W.S. Sampath, V. Manivannan, J. Sol. Energy Eng. 129, 327 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Y. Zhu, D. Mao, D.L. Williamson, J.U. Trefny, Proc. Mater. Res. Soc. 426, 227 (1996)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. D. Albin, Y. Yan, M.M. Al-Jassim, Prog. Photovolt. Res. Appl. 10, 309 (2002)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Y. Yan, D. Albin, M.M. Al-Jassim, Appl. Phys. Lett. 78, 171 (2001)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. F.R. Ahmad, A. Yakimov, R.J. Davis, J.H. Her, J.R. Cournoyer, N.M. Ayensu, Thin Solid Films 535, 166 (2013)

    Google Scholar 

  26. A. Bosio, N. Romeo, S. Mazzamuto, V. Canevari, Prog. Cryst. Growth Charact. Mater. 52, 247 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. S. Hegedus, D. Ryan, K. Dobson, B.E. McCandless, D. Desai, Proc. Mater. Res. Soc. 763, 447 (2003)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The Authors would like to thank Professor Alvin D. Compaan for providing access to his lab and for his valuable suggestions. We also would like to thank Dr. David Strickler from NSG (Pilkington NA) Toledo, OH for supplying SnO2:F coated soda-lime glass substrates. This work was partially supported by the U.S. Department of Energy SunShot program under contract No. 0492-1662 and the Ohio Research Scholar Program (ORSP).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics and Astronomy, Wright Center for Photovoltaics Innovation and Commercialization, University of Toledo, Research and Technology Complex 1, MS 218, 2600 Dorr St., Toledo, OH, 43607, USA

    Naba R. Paudel, Chuanxiao Xiao & Yanfa Yan

Authors
  1. Naba R. Paudel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Chuanxiao Xiao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Yanfa Yan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Naba R. Paudel.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Paudel, N.R., Xiao, C. & Yan, Y. Close-space sublimation grown CdS window layers for CdS/CdTe thin-film solar cells. J Mater Sci: Mater Electron 25, 1991–1998 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-014-1834-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-014-1834-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation