THE INFLUENCE OF DEPOSITION AND PROCESSING CONDITIONS ON THE PROPERTIES OF EVAPORATED CdTe/ CdS LAYERS AND SOLAR CELLS

Abstract

The influence of the deposition and CdCl2 doping conditions on the properties of CdTe layers and on the performance of CdTe/CdS/ITO/glass solar cells is reported. Relatively high deposition temperatures (300-350°C) were found to enhance the reproducibility of the optical quality of the CdTe. Oxidation of CdTe layers during air annealing was observed and monitored by XRD. Conventional wet dip and CdCl2 vapour doping of CdTe are compared. Methods for reducing the incidence of pinholes in the CdTe are described, the junction uniformity having been monitored by EBIC. The best solar cell made in this work had an efficiency of 9.87%. (V oc = 0.696V, J sc = 24.1 mA/cm2, FF = 59%).