Optical and Electrical Effect of Texture Morphology on the Performance of Thin-Film Solar Cells

2012 ◽  
Vol 1426 ◽  
pp. 161-166
Author(s):  
Daiji Kanematsu ◽  
Mitsuhiro Matsumoto ◽  
Shigeo Yata ◽  
Yoichiro Aya ◽  
Akira Terakawa ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTWe correlated the texture morphology and the solar cell properties by measuring the distribution in the texture morphology. As a result, the short-circuit current ISC was approximated across various types of substrates by the standard texture height. Furthermore, we investigated the texture morphology from the point of view of the electrical effects. With regard to this point, the open-circuit voltage VOC was correlated to the steepest texture angle. Therefore, we consider that the both of the ISC and the VOC can be improved by controlling the distribution in the texture morphology.

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 242-250
Author(s):  
D. Sergeyev ◽  
K. Shunkeyev ◽  
B. Kuatov ◽  
N. Zhanturina

In this paper, the features of the characteristics of model thin-film solar cells based on the non-toxic multicomponent compound CuZn2AlS4 (CZAS) are considered. The main parameters (open-circuit voltage, short-circuit current, fill factor, efficiency) and characteristics (quantum efficiency, current-voltage characteristic) of thin-film solar cells based on CZAS have been determined. The minimum optimal thickness of the CZAS absorber is found (1-1.25 microns). Deterioration of the performance of solar cells with an increase in operating temperature (280-400 K) is shown. It is revealed that in the wavelength range of 390-500 nm CZAS has a high external quantum efficiency, which allows its use in designs of multi-junction solar cells designed to absorb solar radiation in the specified range. It is shown that the combination of CZAS films with a buffer layer of non-toxic ZnS increases the performance of solar cells.


Coatings ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 520 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lingg ◽  
Buecheler ◽  
Tiwari

Recent improvements in CdTe thin film solar cells have been achieved by using CdTe1−xSex as a part of the absorber layer. This review summarizes the published literature concerning the material properties of CdTe1−xSex and its application in current thin film CdTe photovoltaics. One of the important properties of CdTe1−xSex is its band gap bowing, which facilitates a lowering of the CdTe band gap towards the optimum band gap for highest theoretical efficiency. In practice, a CdTe1−xSex gradient is introduced to the front of CdTe, which induces a band gap gradient and allows for the fabrication of solar cells with enhanced short-circuit current while maintaining a high open-circuit voltage. In some device structures, the addition of CdTe1−xSex also allows for a reduction in CdS thickness or its complete elimination, reducing parasitic absorption of low wavelength photons.


Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 1684
Author(s):  
Alessandro Romeo ◽  
Elisa Artegiani

CdTe is a very robust and chemically stable material and for this reason its related solar cell thin film photovoltaic technology is now the only thin film technology in the first 10 top producers in the world. CdTe has an optimum band gap for the Schockley-Queisser limit and could deliver very high efficiencies as single junction device of more than 32%, with an open circuit voltage of 1 V and a short circuit current density exceeding 30 mA/cm2. CdTe solar cells were introduced at the beginning of the 70s and they have been studied and implemented particularly in the last 30 years. The strong improvement in efficiency in the last 5 years was obtained by a new redesign of the CdTe solar cell device reaching a single solar cell efficiency of 22.1% and a module efficiency of 19%. In this paper we describe the fabrication process following the history of the solar cell as it was developed in the early years up to the latest development and changes. Moreover the paper also presents future possible alternative absorbers and discusses the only apparently controversial environmental impacts of this fantastic technology.


2011 ◽  
Vol 378-379 ◽  
pp. 601-605 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saleh N. Alamri ◽  
M. S. Benghanem ◽  
A. A. Joraid

This study investigates the preparation of the three main layers of a CdS/CdTe thin film solar cell using a single vacuum system. A Close Space Sublimation System was constructed to deposit CdS, CdTe and CdCl2 solar cell layers. Two hot plates were used to heat the source and the substrate. Three fused silica melting dishes were used as containers for the sources. The properties of the deposited CdS and CdTe films were determined via Atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and optical transmission spectroscopy. An J-V characterization of the fabricated CdS/CdTe solar cells was performed under solar radiation. The short-circuit current density, Jsc, the open-circuit voltage, Voc, fill factor, FF and conversion efficiency, η, were measured and yielded values of 27 mA/cm2, 0.619 V, 58% and 9.8%, respectively.


2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 1134-1141 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bofei Liu ◽  
Lisha Bai ◽  
Tiantian Li ◽  
Changchun Wei ◽  
Baozhang Li ◽  
...  

A highly efficient quadruple-junction silicon based thin-film solar cell with a remarkably high open-circuit voltage was demonstrated to inspire functional photoelectrical devices for environmental applications.


2013 ◽  
Vol 1538 ◽  
pp. 51-60 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neelkanth G. Dhere ◽  
Ashwani Kaul ◽  
Helio Moutinho

ABSTRACTSodium plays an important role in the development of device quality CIGS (Cu-In-Ga-Se) and CIGSeS (Cu-In-Ga-Se-S) chalcopyrite thin film solar cells. In this study the effect of location of sodium precursor on the device properties of CIGS solar cells was studied. Reduction in the surface roughness and improvement in the crystallinity and morphology of the absorber films was observed with increase in sodium quantity from 0 Å to 40 Å and to 80 Å NaF. It was found that absorber films with 40 Å and 80 Å NaF in the front of the metallic precursors formed better devices compared to those with sodium at the back. Higher open circuit voltages and short circuit current values were achieved for devices made with these absorber films as well.


2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hwen-Fen Hong ◽  
Tsung-Shiew Huang ◽  
Wu-Yih Uen ◽  
Yen-Yeh Chen

We performed accelerated tests on sealed and nonsealed InGaP/InGaAs/Ge triple-junction (TJ) solar cells in a complex high temperature and high humidity environment and investigated the electrical properties over time. The degradation of energy conversion efficiency in nonsealed cells was found to be more serious than that in sealed cells. The short-circuit current (ISC), open-circuit voltage (VOC), and fill factor (FF) of sealed cells changed very slightly, though the conversion efficiency decreased 3.6% over 500 h of exposure. This decrease of conversion efficiency was suggested to be due to the deterioration of silicone encapsulant. TheISC,VOC, and FF of nonsealed cells decreased with increasing exposure time. By EL and SEM analysis, the root causes of degradation can be attributed to the damage and cracks near the edge of cells induced by the moisture ingress. It resulted in shunt paths that lead to a deterioration of the conversion efficiency of solar cell by increasing the leakage current, as well as decreasing open-circuit voltage and fill factor of nonsealed solar cells.


Author(s):  
Omar Ghanim Ghazal ◽  
Ahmed Waleed Kasim ◽  
Nabeel Zuhair Tawfeeq

Cadmium telluride (CdTe)/cadmium sulfide (CdS) solar cell is a promising candidate for photovoltaic (PV) energy production, as fabrication costs are compared by silicon wafers. We include an analysis of CdTe/CdS solar cells while optimizing structural parameters. Solar cell capacitance simulator (SCAPS)-1D 3.3 software is used to analyze and develop energy-efficient. The impact of operating thermal efficiency on solar cells is highlighted in this article to explore the temperature dependence. PV parameters were calculated in the different absorber, buffer, and window layer thicknesses (CdTe, CdS, and SnO2). The effect of the thicknesses of the layers, and the fundamental characteristics of open-circuit voltage, fill factor, short circuit current, and solar energy conversion efficiency were studied. The results showed the thickness of the absorber and buffer layers could be optimized. The temperature had a major impact on the CdTe/CdS solar cells as well. The optimized solar cell has an efficiency performance of >14% when exposed to the AM1.5 G spectrum. CdTe 3000 nm, CdS 50 nm, SnO2 500 nm, and (at) T 300k were the I-V characteristics gave the best conversion open circuit voltage (Voc)=0.8317 volts, short circuit current density (Jsc)=23.15 mA/cm2, fill factor (FF)%=77.48, and efficiency (η)%=14.73. The results can be used to provide important guidance for future work on multi-junction solar cell design.


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