Application of CIS to High-Efficiency PV Module Fabrication: Annual Technical Progress Report, 1 April 1996 - 31 March 1997

During this research period, International Solar Electric Technology (ISET) researchers concentrated their efforts on three different areas of research. Within the CIS Partnership Program, ISET participated in the 'substrate/MO interactions' working group and investigated issues such as Na diffusion from the soda-lime glass substrate into the Mo layers and CIS films. Researchers determined thatthe Na content within the Mo layers was not a strong function of the nature of the Mo film. However, diffusion through the Mo layers was found to be a function of the Mo film characteristics, as well as a very strong function of the CIS growth process. Na was found to be on the grain boundaries both in Mo and CIS layers. Much of the effort was spent on developing a low-cost, non-vacuum CISdeposition technique and on establishing a pilot facility to process approximately 1-ft2 modules. The non-vacuum technique was successfully developed for CIS film growth. Layers prepared using this novel approach were used for solar cell and submodule fabrication. Small-area solar cells with total-area efficiencies of 12.4% were demonstrated.