The use of CdTe solar cells thin films is of great interest due to the fact that their band gap is optimum for efficient photo-conversion. Recent publications have shown that 12% efficiencies have been obtained using the Closed Space Sublimation (CSS) technique [1]. In this way the use of SiC electrical heating elements is a very promising approach [2] due to the fact that CdTe solar cells obtained by this way have high reproducibility and low manufacturing cost. The deposition parameters of CdTe layers and their influence on the structural and morphological properties have been studied by Luschitz et al. [3].

CdS/CdTe solar cells were developed in superstrate configuration on commercial TCO/glass substrates using Fluorine doped Tin Oxide (FTO) as the front contact.

The CdS window layer was deposited on FTO substrates by two different techniques: Chemical Bath Deposition (CBD), and CSS using SiC electrical heating elements. The morphology, crystalline structure and composition of the CdS thin films were analyzed by SEM, AFM, XRD and EDX. The results show that the CdS film obtained by CSS has better crystallography structure for 002 orientation, while the one prepared by CBD present a worse structure.

The CdTe absorber layer was deposited by CSS on top of the CdS window layer, using the same deposition parameters for all samples. The properties of CdS/CdTe thin films will be studied in order to analyze the influence of the deposition technique in the quality of the CdS window layer.

Fig 1: X-Ray Diffraction Patterns at Gracing Incidence (Angle = 0.5º) from CdS deposited by CBD and CSS

[1] J. Schaffner et al, Journal of applied phisics, 110, 064508, (2011).

[2] J. L. Plaza et al, CrystEngComm, 15, 2314-2318, (2013).

[3] J. Luschitz et al. Thin Solid Films 517, 2125-2131, (2009).

• Legal notice:
  

  Copyright (c) Pielaszek Research, all rights reserved.
  The above materials, including auxiliary resources, are subject to Publisher's copyright and the Author(s) intellectual rights. Without limiting Author(s) rights under respective Copyright Transfer Agreement, no part of the above documents may be reproduced without the express written permission of Pielaszek Research, the Publisher. Express permission from the Author(s) is required to use the above materials for academic purposes, such as lectures or scientific presentations.
  In every case, proper references including Author(s) name(s) and URL of this webpage: https://science24.com/paper/28836 must be provided.

1. CdS and CdTe films grown by close space vapour sublimation using resistive heaters for solar cell applications: Experimental and numerical analysis
2. Passivation effect of CdS thin films grown by Chemical Bath Deposition on gallium antimonide surfaces