Abstract
The principal techniques used in the physical characterization of thin-film solar cells and materials are reviewed, these being scanning probe microscopy (SPM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), spectroscopic ellipsometry, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), secondary-ion mass spectrometry (SIMS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), photoluminescence and time-resolved photoluminescence (TRPL), electron-beam-induced current (EBIC) and light-beam-induced current (LBIC). For each method the particular applicability to thin-film solar cells is highlighted. Examples of the use of each are given, these being drawn from the chalcopyrite, CdTe, Si and III-V materials systems.
| Original language | American English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 177-217 |
| Number of pages | 41 |
| Journal | Progress in Photovoltaics: Research and Applications |
| Volume | 12 |
| Issue number | 2-3 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 2004 |
NREL Publication Number
- NREL/JA-520-36458
Keywords
- Characterization
- Chemical analysis
- Microstructure
- Optical properties
- Spatially resolved functionality
- Thin-film solar cell