Bifacial CdTe Solar Cells with Copper Chromium Oxide Back‐Buffer Layer
Abstract
Bifacial solar cells have the potential to maintain energy output higher than monofacial devices under unfavorable weather conditions. A transparent back‐buffer layer which can passivate the interface and improve the minority carrier lifetime is critical in CdTe‐based bifacial devices. Herein, solution‐processed CuxCryOz as a promising back‐buffer for CdTe/CdS solar cells is demonstrated. The carrier lifetimes measured at the front and back of the device are 31.2 and 3.1 ns, respectively, which correspond to an increase of ≈38% and 138%, respectively, compared to the reference device. This dramatic improvement in lifetime results in a 100% increase in short‐circuit current measured with backside illumination. The best bifacial device has efficiencies 7.6% and 12.5%, respectively, from back and front illumination, yielding a bifaciality factor of 0.60.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 2022
- Source ID
- 10.1002/solr.202200501
Entities
People
- Abasi Abudulimu
- Abdul Quader
- Adam Phillips
- Aesha P. Patel
- Dipendra Pokhrel
- Ebin Bastola
- Jared Friedl
- Kamala Khanal Subedi
- Manoj K. Jamarkattel
- Michael J. Heben
- Randy J Ellingson
- Suman Rijal
- Xavier Mathew
- Yanfa Yan
- Zachary Zawisza
Organizations
- Air Force Research Laboratory
- National Autonomous University of Mexico
- Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
- University of Toledo