Phase Control of CuxTe Film and Its Effects on CdS/CdTe Solar Cell

X. Wu; J. Zhou; A. Duda; Y. Yan; G. Teeter; S. Asher; W. K. Metzger; S. Demtsu; Su Huai Wei; R. Noufi

doi:10.1016/j.tsf.2006.12.151

Phase Control of CuxTe Film and Its Effects on CdS/CdTe Solar Cell

X. Wu, J. Zhou, A. Duda, Y. Yan, G. Teeter, S. Asher, W. K. Metzger, S. Demtsu, Su Huai Wei, R. Noufi

Materials Science

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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Abstract

Phase control is critical for achieving high-performance CdTe cells when Cu_xTe is used as a back-contact for CdTe cells. Cu_xTe phases are mainly controlled by the Cu/Te ratio, and they can also be affected by post-heat-treatment temperature. Although Cu₂Te has the highest conductivity, it is unstable and provides more Cu diffusion into the CdS and CdTe films. Cu diffusion into the CdS causes "cross-over", and Cu diffusion into the CdTe film creates Cu-related defects that lower photogenerated carrier lifetime and result in voltage-dependent collection. A "recontact" experiment clearly indicated that the mechanism giving rise to "roll-over" is the formation of Cu-related oxides, rather than the loss of Cu on the back-contact.

Original language	American English
Pages (from-to)	5798-5803
Number of pages	6
Journal	Thin Solid Films
Volume	515
Issue number	15
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tsf.2006.12.151 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tsf.2006.12.151
State	Published - 2007

NREL Publication Number

NREL/JA-520-40021

Keywords

Back-contact
Cadmium telluride
Copper telluride

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title = "Phase Control of CuxTe Film and Its Effects on CdS/CdTe Solar Cell",

abstract = "Phase control is critical for achieving high-performance CdTe cells when CuxTe is used as a back-contact for CdTe cells. CuxTe phases are mainly controlled by the Cu/Te ratio, and they can also be affected by post-heat-treatment temperature. Although Cu2Te has the highest conductivity, it is unstable and provides more Cu diffusion into the CdS and CdTe films. Cu diffusion into the CdS causes {"}cross-over{"}, and Cu diffusion into the CdTe film creates Cu-related defects that lower photogenerated carrier lifetime and result in voltage-dependent collection. A {"}recontact{"} experiment clearly indicated that the mechanism giving rise to {"}roll-over{"} is the formation of Cu-related oxides, rather than the loss of Cu on the back-contact.",

keywords = "Back-contact, Cadmium telluride, Copper telluride",

author = "X. Wu and J. Zhou and A. Duda and Y. Yan and G. Teeter and S. Asher and Metzger, {W. K.} and S. Demtsu and Wei, {Su Huai} and R. Noufi",

year = "2007",

doi = "10.1016/j.tsf.2006.12.151",

language = "American English",

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issn = "0040-6090",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Phase Control of CuxTe Film and Its Effects on CdS/CdTe Solar Cell

AU - Wu, X.

AU - Zhou, J.

AU - Duda, A.

AU - Yan, Y.

AU - Teeter, G.

AU - Asher, S.

AU - Metzger, W. K.

AU - Demtsu, S.

AU - Wei, Su Huai

AU - Noufi, R.

PY - 2007

Y1 - 2007

N2 - Phase control is critical for achieving high-performance CdTe cells when CuxTe is used as a back-contact for CdTe cells. CuxTe phases are mainly controlled by the Cu/Te ratio, and they can also be affected by post-heat-treatment temperature. Although Cu2Te has the highest conductivity, it is unstable and provides more Cu diffusion into the CdS and CdTe films. Cu diffusion into the CdS causes "cross-over", and Cu diffusion into the CdTe film creates Cu-related defects that lower photogenerated carrier lifetime and result in voltage-dependent collection. A "recontact" experiment clearly indicated that the mechanism giving rise to "roll-over" is the formation of Cu-related oxides, rather than the loss of Cu on the back-contact.

AB - Phase control is critical for achieving high-performance CdTe cells when CuxTe is used as a back-contact for CdTe cells. CuxTe phases are mainly controlled by the Cu/Te ratio, and they can also be affected by post-heat-treatment temperature. Although Cu2Te has the highest conductivity, it is unstable and provides more Cu diffusion into the CdS and CdTe films. Cu diffusion into the CdS causes "cross-over", and Cu diffusion into the CdTe film creates Cu-related defects that lower photogenerated carrier lifetime and result in voltage-dependent collection. A "recontact" experiment clearly indicated that the mechanism giving rise to "roll-over" is the formation of Cu-related oxides, rather than the loss of Cu on the back-contact.

KW - Back-contact

KW - Cadmium telluride

KW - Copper telluride

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U2 - 10.1016/j.tsf.2006.12.151

DO - 10.1016/j.tsf.2006.12.151

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:34247344820

SN - 0040-6090

VL - 515

SP - 5798

EP - 5803

JO - Thin Solid Films

JF - Thin Solid Films

IS - 15

ER -

Phase Control of CuxTe Film and Its Effects on CdS/CdTe Solar Cell

Abstract

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Keywords

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