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Abbas_Shimpi et al 2018_rev2.pdf (3.68 MB)

CdS barrier to minimize Zn loss during CdCl2 treatment of Cd-Zn-Te absorbers

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journal contribution
posted on 2018-12-18, 10:02 authored by Tushar M. Shimpi, Drew E. Swanson, Jennifer Drayton, Ali AbbasAli Abbas, Michael WallsMichael Walls, Kurt L. Barth, Walajabad S. Sampath
© 2018 A major challenge in the fabrication of high band gap II–VI polycrystalline solar cells is to preserve the original composition of the absorber after the CdCl2 activation treatment. In this study, a method is demonstrated to maintain the Cd-Zn-Te alloy absorber composition during its exposure to the CdCl2 treatment. A thin film of CdS was applied as a barrier on the back surface of the high band gap polycrystalline Cd(1−x)ZnxTe (x = 20% by atomic ratio, corresponding band gap 1.72 eV) before the CdCl2 treatment. Using transmission electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy, it was observed that the composition of Cd-Zn-Te was maintained after the CdCl2 treatment. The devices fabricated after removing the thin film of CdS, exhibited diode-like behavior. A significant increase in the quantum efficiency near the short wavelength region was observed, and the band gap of Cd(1−x)ZnxTe was maintained.

Funding

The co-sublimation and device fabrication work at Colorado State University was funded by Nation Science Foundation: Accelerating Innovation Research and Industry/University Cooperative Research Centers programs. The specimen preparation and TEM/EDS analysis at Loughborough University was supported by Engineering and Physical Science Research Council - Supergen SuperSolar Hub.

History

School

  • Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering

Published in

Solar Energy

Volume

173

Pages

1181 - 1188

Citation

SHIMPI, T.M. ... et al., 2018. CdS barrier to minimize Zn loss during CdCl2 treatment of Cd-Zn-Te absorbers. Solar Energy, 173, pp. 1181-1188.

Publisher

© Elsevier

Version

  • AM (Accepted Manuscript)

Publisher statement

This paper was accepted for publication in the journal Solar Energy and the definitive published version is available at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2018.08.060

Acceptance date

2018-08-21

Publication date

2018-08-29

Copyright date

2018

ISSN

0038-092X

Language

  • en