A Comparative Study of Microstructural Stability and Sulphur Diffusion in CdS/CdTe Photovoltaic Devices

Joel Duenow; A.A. Taylor; J.D. Major; G. Kartopu; D. Lamb; R.G. Dhere; X. Maeder; S.J.C. Irvine; K. Durose; B.G. Mendis

doi:10.1016/j.solmat.2015.06.010

A Comparative Study of Microstructural Stability and Sulphur Diffusion in CdS/CdTe Photovoltaic Devices

Joel Duenow, A.A. Taylor, J.D. Major, G. Kartopu, D. Lamb, R.G. Dhere, X. Maeder, S.J.C. Irvine, K. Durose, B.G. Mendis

Materials Science

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Abstract

The role of CdCl₂ activation in the production of high quality CdTe-based photovoltaic devices remains a subject of much debate. In this study, CdTe-based cells produced in three independent laboratories using different device fabrication technologies are investigated before and after CdCl₂ activation with regard to structural changes (recrystallisation and grain growth) and sulphur out-diffusion. Using scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) and X-ray diffraction it is demonstrated that CdCl₂ activation of the investigated cells produces no statistical structural changes to the CdTe. Additionally, energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS) performed in the STEM on the same samples illustrates that the change in sulphur diffusion following activation is more limited than expected from previous studies; no change is detectable when the thermal budget for CdTe deposition is significantly greater than that for activation. This suggests that the efficiency enhancement during CdCl₂ treatment is not due to sulphur out-diffusion. Lastly, cathodoluminescence microscopy is used to demonstrate in two dimensions how sulphur diffuses into a model sample and the results are found to be consistent with STEM-EDS. Some spectroscopic evidence for enhanced sulphur diffusion along grain boundaries is also observed.

Original language	American English
Pages (from-to)	341-349
Number of pages	9
Journal	Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells
Volume	141
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solmat.2015.06.010 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solmat.2015.06.010
State	Published - 2015

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2015 Elsevier B.V.

NREL Publication Number

NREL/JA-5K00-64674

Keywords

Cathodoluminescence
CdTe/CdS photovoltaics
EDS
STEM
Sulphur diffusion

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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Duenow, J., Taylor, A. A., Major, J. D., Kartopu, G., Lamb, D., Dhere, R. G., Maeder, X., Irvine, S. J. C., Durose, K., & Mendis, B. G. (2015). A Comparative Study of Microstructural Stability and Sulphur Diffusion in CdS/CdTe Photovoltaic Devices. Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, 141, 341-349. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solmat.2015.06.010, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solmat.2015.06.010

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abstract = "The role of CdCl2 activation in the production of high quality CdTe-based photovoltaic devices remains a subject of much debate. In this study, CdTe-based cells produced in three independent laboratories using different device fabrication technologies are investigated before and after CdCl2 activation with regard to structural changes (recrystallisation and grain growth) and sulphur out-diffusion. Using scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) and X-ray diffraction it is demonstrated that CdCl2 activation of the investigated cells produces no statistical structural changes to the CdTe. Additionally, energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS) performed in the STEM on the same samples illustrates that the change in sulphur diffusion following activation is more limited than expected from previous studies; no change is detectable when the thermal budget for CdTe deposition is significantly greater than that for activation. This suggests that the efficiency enhancement during CdCl2 treatment is not due to sulphur out-diffusion. Lastly, cathodoluminescence microscopy is used to demonstrate in two dimensions how sulphur diffuses into a model sample and the results are found to be consistent with STEM-EDS. Some spectroscopic evidence for enhanced sulphur diffusion along grain boundaries is also observed.",

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Duenow, J, Taylor, AA, Major, JD, Kartopu, G, Lamb, D, Dhere, RG, Maeder, X, Irvine, SJC, Durose, K & Mendis, BG 2015, 'A Comparative Study of Microstructural Stability and Sulphur Diffusion in CdS/CdTe Photovoltaic Devices', Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, vol. 141, pp. 341-349. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solmat.2015.06.010, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solmat.2015.06.010

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AU - Duenow, Joel

AU - Taylor, A.A.

AU - Major, J.D.

AU - Kartopu, G.

AU - Lamb, D.

AU - Dhere, R.G.

AU - Maeder, X.

AU - Irvine, S.J.C.

AU - Durose, K.

AU - Mendis, B.G.

PY - 2015

Y1 - 2015

N2 - The role of CdCl2 activation in the production of high quality CdTe-based photovoltaic devices remains a subject of much debate. In this study, CdTe-based cells produced in three independent laboratories using different device fabrication technologies are investigated before and after CdCl2 activation with regard to structural changes (recrystallisation and grain growth) and sulphur out-diffusion. Using scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) and X-ray diffraction it is demonstrated that CdCl2 activation of the investigated cells produces no statistical structural changes to the CdTe. Additionally, energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS) performed in the STEM on the same samples illustrates that the change in sulphur diffusion following activation is more limited than expected from previous studies; no change is detectable when the thermal budget for CdTe deposition is significantly greater than that for activation. This suggests that the efficiency enhancement during CdCl2 treatment is not due to sulphur out-diffusion. Lastly, cathodoluminescence microscopy is used to demonstrate in two dimensions how sulphur diffuses into a model sample and the results are found to be consistent with STEM-EDS. Some spectroscopic evidence for enhanced sulphur diffusion along grain boundaries is also observed.

AB - The role of CdCl2 activation in the production of high quality CdTe-based photovoltaic devices remains a subject of much debate. In this study, CdTe-based cells produced in three independent laboratories using different device fabrication technologies are investigated before and after CdCl2 activation with regard to structural changes (recrystallisation and grain growth) and sulphur out-diffusion. Using scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) and X-ray diffraction it is demonstrated that CdCl2 activation of the investigated cells produces no statistical structural changes to the CdTe. Additionally, energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS) performed in the STEM on the same samples illustrates that the change in sulphur diffusion following activation is more limited than expected from previous studies; no change is detectable when the thermal budget for CdTe deposition is significantly greater than that for activation. This suggests that the efficiency enhancement during CdCl2 treatment is not due to sulphur out-diffusion. Lastly, cathodoluminescence microscopy is used to demonstrate in two dimensions how sulphur diffuses into a model sample and the results are found to be consistent with STEM-EDS. Some spectroscopic evidence for enhanced sulphur diffusion along grain boundaries is also observed.

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KW - CdTe/CdS photovoltaics

KW - EDS

KW - STEM

KW - Sulphur diffusion

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ER -

A Comparative Study of Microstructural Stability and Sulphur Diffusion in CdS/CdTe Photovoltaic Devices

Abstract

Bibliographical note

NREL Publication Number

Keywords

UN SDGs

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