Improved CdTe Solar Cell and Array Environmental Effects Investigation.
Abstract
Work on vapor-reacted thin-film CdTe solar cells is reported. Development of the basic film growth processing and cell fabrication is summarized. A general description of the vapor reaction process for growing thin CdTe film on a molybdenum substrate, as it was used at the beginning of 1967, is given. Among the major problems worked on were weight reduction, adherence of film to substrate, electrical contacts, stability, and efficiency. The results of stability tests are reported, and measurement of efficiency and factors affecting it are discussed. A re-examination of metal: semiconductor barriers resulted in a successful effort to build gold Schottky barrier cells during the final four months of the contract. Film growth parameters and processing methods were examined, and efficiency results obtained with gold barrier cells are reported. Techniques for producing an inflatable array of thin-film solar cells were studied. Methods for calculating short circuit current from spectral response data and for determining AM-1 and AM-0 solar cell efficiencies from measurements under tungsten radiation are given.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 1969
- Accession Number
- AD0852760
Entities
People
- D. T. F. Marple
- F. A. Blake
- R. J. Deneve
- R. N. Krapf
- R. W. Aldrich
Organizations
- General Electric