Distribution of Copper States, Phases, and Defects across the Depth of a Cu-Doped CdTe Solar Cell

Srisuda Rojsatien, Arun Mannodi-Kanakkithodi, Trumann Walker, Niranjana Kumar, Tara Nietzold, Eric Colegrove, Dan Mao, Michael Stuckelberger, Barry Lai, Zhonghou Cai, Maria Chan, Mariana Bertoni

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Scopus Citations

Abstract

Copper has been used as a p-type dopant in cadmium telluride (CdTe) for decades. However, the density of Cu atoms in the finished device is much higher than that of holes, which means that most Cu atoms are not activated as acceptors during incorporation. Furthermore, studies have demonstrated that the distribution of copper (Cu) atoms across the device is highly inhomogeneous, with reports citing Cu substitution on Cd sites and segregation to grain boundaries. Fast diffusion along these boundaries and Cu accumulation at the CdTe/CdS interface have also been observed and validated computationally. These levels of inhomogeneity make it difficult to accurately characterize and correlate the performance with the nature of the Cu atomic species present. To address this challenge, we utilize X-ray microscopy and, specifically, nanoscale fluorescence-mode X-ray absorption near-edge structure to resolve the atomic Cu environment throughout the depth of the CdTe layer. Our results suggest that the majority of Cu atoms are in the form of CuxTe phases (or similar local environments) near the ZnTe|CdTe interface, CuxO phases in the CdTe absorber, and present in various oxidation states, including Cu1+ and Cu2+, near the CdS/CdTe junction. This work also provides experimental evidence for the first time of the presence of CuS around the ZnTe|CdTe interface and the hypothesized CuCd-Cli complex in the CdTe absorber.
Original languageAmerican English
Pages (from-to)9935-9944
Number of pages10
JournalChemistry of Materials
Volume35
Issue number23
DOIs
StatePublished - 2023

NREL Publication Number

  • NREL/JA-5K00-86352

Keywords

  • cadmium telluride
  • copper
  • photovoltaics
  • X-ray absorption near-edge structure
  • XANES

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Distribution of Copper States, Phases, and Defects across the Depth of a Cu-Doped CdTe Solar Cell'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this