Investigations into alternative substrate, absorber and buffer layer processing for Cu(In,Ga)Se/sub 2/-based solar cells

High-performance Cu(In,Ga)Se/sub 2/ (CIGS) based solar cells are fabricated within a narrow range of processing options. In this contribution, alternative substrate, absorber, and buffer layer processing is considered. Cell performance varies considerably when alternative substrates are employed. These variations are narrowed with the addition of Na via a Na/sub 2/S compound. Sputtered and electrodeposited CIGS precursors and completed absorbers show promise as alternatives to evaporation. A recrystallization process is required to improve their quality. (In,Ga)/sub y/Se buffer layers contribute to cell performance above 10%. Further improvements in these alternatives will lead to combined cell performance greater than 10% in the near term.