Performance of Transparent Conductors on Flexible Glass and Plastic Substrates for Thin Film Photovoltaics

James Burst, Wyatt Metzger, Teresa Barnes, Timothy Gessert, Matthew Reese, W.L. Rance, D.M. Meysing, C.A. Wolden, S.M. Garner, P. Cimo

Research output: Contribution to conferencePaperpeer-review

21 Scopus Citations

Abstract

Flexible, superstrate CdTe devices combine the advantages of a commercially demonstrated, low-cost manufacturing process with a lightweight, flexible form factor. Here, we present data on cell efficiencies greater than 16%, and the critical processing changes that have enabled recent efficiency increases. The devices in this study were made on Corning® Willow® Glass, which is a highly transparent, flexible, hermetic, and dimensionally stable substrate that can withstand high processing temperatures. To date, we have produced devices with several different combinations of front and back contacts on this glass and have found that it is compatible with most of our standard processing steps. One of our best devices to date has a certified efficiency of 16.2%, with a short-circuit current density (Jsc) of 25.6 mA/cm2, an open-circuit voltage of 820 mV, and a fill factor (FF) of 77.3%. The increased Jsc in this cell is due to an improved sputtered CdS:O deposition process, and the high FF is due to a co-evaporated ZnTe:Cu back contact.

Original languageAmerican English
Pages1589-1592
Number of pages4
DOIs
StatePublished - 15 Oct 2014
Event40th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialist Conference, PVSC 2014 - Denver, United States
Duration: 8 Jun 201413 Jun 2014

Conference

Conference40th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialist Conference, PVSC 2014
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityDenver
Period8/06/1413/06/14

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2014 IEEE.

NREL Publication Number

  • NREL/CP-5K00-61199

Keywords

  • CdTe
  • flexible electronics
  • II-VI semiconductor materials
  • photovoltaic cells

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