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Incorporation of Cd1-xMgx Te as an Electron Reflector for Cadmium Telluride Photovoltaic Cells

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 April 2015

Drew E. Swanson ,
Ali Abbas ,
Amit H. Munshi ,
Jennifer A. Drayton ,
John M. Raguse ,
Russell M. Geisthardt ,
James R. Sites  and
Walajabad S. Sampath
Drew E. Swanson
Affiliation:
Deparment of Mechanical Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
Ali Abbas
Affiliation:
Loughborough University, Loughborough, United Kingdom
Amit H. Munshi
Affiliation:
Deparment of Mechanical Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
Jennifer A. Drayton
Affiliation:
Department of Physics, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, U.S.A.
John M. Raguse
Affiliation:
Department of Physics, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, U.S.A.
Russell M. Geisthardt
Affiliation:
Department of Physics, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, U.S.A.
James R. Sites
Affiliation:
Department of Physics, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, U.S.A.
Walajabad S. Sampath
Affiliation:
Deparment of Mechanical Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
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Abstract

The addition of a CdMgTe (CMT) layer at the back of a CdTe solar cell should improve its performance by reflecting both photoelectrons and forward-current electrons away from the rear surface. Higher collection of photoelectrons will increase the cell’s current, and reduction of forward current will increase its voltage. To achieve electron reflection, conformal CMT layers were deposited at the back of CdTe cells, and a variety of measurements including performance curves, transmission electron microscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy were performed. Oxidation of magnesium in the CMT layer was addressed by adding a CdTe capping layer. MgCl2 passivation was substituted for CdCl2 in some cases, but little difference was seen.

Keywords

photovoltaicphysical vapor deposition (PVD)scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM)
Type
Articles
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 1771: Symposium B/C/D/E – Recent Advances in Photovoltaics , 2015 , pp. 133 - 138
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2015 

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References

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