Abstract
This report describes the research on high-efficiency CdTe-based thin-film solar cells and on high-efficiency a-Si-based thin-film solar cells. Implemented a diode-array spectrograph system and used optical emission spectroscopy to help optimize the reactive sputtering of N-doped ZnTe for CdTe back-contact structures. Identified the photoluminescence signatures of various defect states in CdTerelated to Cd vacancies, CuCd acceptors, Cu-VCd complexes, and donor-acceptor pairs, and related these states to instabilities in the hole concentration at room temperature. Showed that Cu is an important non-radiative center in CdS, reducing the PL efficiency. Studied band tailing in CdS weakly alloyed with CdTe and CdTe weakly alloyed with CdS. Fabricated superstrate ITO/CdS/CdTe cells on Mosubstrates with efficiencies above 7.5%. Collaborated in studies of EXAFS of Cu in CdTe which indicate a Cu-Te bond length of 2.62 ? or 6.7% shorter than the CdTe, bond in agreement with calculations of Wei et al. Provided assistance to two groups on laser scribing. Comparatively studied the performance of a-SiGe solar cells and properties of a-SiGe single-layer films deposited using a widerange of H dilution, observed transition from a-SiGe to ?c-SiGe at high H dilution and the impact on cell performances. Comparatively studied the performance of a-SiGe solar cells and properties of a-SiGe single-layer films with different Ge contents, suitable for use as component cells of triple-junction devices. Fabricated a-Si-based solar cells on ultra-thin stainless-steel substrate (7.5micron) and obtained equivalent performance and yield as on the regular SS substrates (127 microns). Comparatively studied the performance of a-Si-based solar cells on SS substrates and on SnO2-coated glass substrates. Studied the performance of p-layers deposited under various deposition conditions for n-i-p type solar cells. Performed an analysis for the component cell current-matching withina triple-junction solar cell.
Original language | American English |
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Number of pages | 77 |
State | Published - 2001 |
Bibliographical note
Work performed by University of Toledo, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Toledo, OhioNREL Publication Number
- NREL/SR-520-30739