Khaled M. Chahrour

Preparation of p-type Na-doped Cu2O by electrodeposition for a p-n homojunction thin film solar cell

In this work, a method of enhancing the electrical properties of the electrodeposited p-type Cu2O film is described. Sodium doped Cu2O was achieved by adding sodium aluminate complex solution to the electrodeposition alkaline Cu (II) lactate electrolyte. The optimal Na content [Na at% atomic ratio] incorporated in the Cu2O film was found to be approximately 1.34 at.%. The XPS result shows that the binding energy at 1072.4 ± 0.2 eV corresponds to the presence of sodium in sodium oxide. The optimized resistivity and the hole concentration were approximately 291 Ω cm and 2.13 × 1018 cm3, respectively. A Cu2O p-n homojunction solar cell with 2.05% efficiency was fabricated using a Cl-doped n-type Cu2O film and an optimized Na-doped Cu2O film.