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Copper content dependence of electrical properties and Raman spectra of Se-deficient Cu(In,Ga)Se2 thin films for solar cells

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Abstract

This paper reports the Raman spectra and electrical analysis of Se-deficient Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGS) films with various Cu contents. These films were deposited by low-cost two-step process consisting of sputtering of metallic precursor and subsequent selenization. Raman spectra exhibit the formation of chalcopyrite phase while signs of secondary phases like CuxSe and ordered vacancy compound are also observed. Electrical measurements show the change of main carrier source as well as the transformation of conduction type with varying Cu content. Comprehensive analysis of Raman spectra and electrical measurements qualitatively explains the relationship between electrical properties and Cu contents. Based on this relationship, the optimal range of Cu/(Ga + In) for Se-deficient CIGS solar cells is identified as 0.875–0.925, which is smaller than that for Se-sufficient CIGS solar cells due to the presence of Se vacancies. The efficiency data of CIGS solar cells fabricated with same absorber deposition process are in good agreement with this optimal range. The results of this paper could be used to estimate device performance at early process stages.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) (Grant No. 61006092), and the key incubation project of Shanghai Institute of Technical Physics (Chinese Academy of Science). The authors would like to thank Dr. Yun Zhang and Dr. Kenan Zhang for helping with Raman spectra measurements.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Laboratory for Infrared Physics, Shanghai Institute of Technical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 500 Yu Tian Road, Shanghai, 200083, People’s Republic of China

    Lei Sun, Jianhua Ma, Niangjuan Yao, Zhiming Huang & Junhao Chu

  2. Shanghai Center for Photovoltaics, 888 East Wen Shui Road, Shanghai, 200083, People’s Republic of China

    Lei Sun & Niangjuan Yao

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  1. Lei Sun
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  2. Jianhua Ma
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  3. Niangjuan Yao
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  4. Zhiming Huang
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  5. Junhao Chu
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Correspondence to Jianhua Ma.

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Sun, L., Ma, J., Yao, N. et al. Copper content dependence of electrical properties and Raman spectra of Se-deficient Cu(In,Ga)Se2 thin films for solar cells. J Mater Sci: Mater Electron 27, 9124–9130 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-016-4947-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-016-4947-x

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