IMPROVED CDTE SOLAR CELL AND ARRAY ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS INVESTIGATION.
Abstract
A simple and quick procedure for preparing and testing CdTe: Cu2Te solar cells made from single crystalline CdTe is described. This new technique will reduce the overall time factor for device preparation and test and thereby increase the efficiency of research investigations. The applied research program was directed to studies of the effects of substrate etching and phosphorus doping on cell performance. It has been shown that the ferricyanide etch of the moly substrate results in high quality CdTe film, which, on the average, produces higher efficiency (e.g. 4.5% vs. 4.1%) and less 'leaky' cells than film grown on acid treated substrates. A comparison between phosphorus and copper as acceptor dopants in the CdTe film showed that the latter element was superior in terms of cell 1sc and efficiency. Efficiencies in the range of 4.5% to 5.5% have become fairly common for 1 sq. in. cells. With larger areas (1 in. x 4 in.), the values are somewhat lower, namely 3.5% to 5.0%. Scanning of the larger areas in 1 cm2 'cell units' has clearly shown that many portions of the larger area are over 5.0% efficiency. It is believed that further refinements in the film growing process, rather than the choice of dopants, is the key to achieving cell efficiencies greater than the 5% level that has been demonstrated in the work of this quarter. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 1967
- Accession Number
- AD0825455
Entities
People
- Richard S. Schlotterbeck
Organizations
- General Electric