P. Dippo

Effects of CdCl2 treatment on the recrystallization and electro-optical properties of CdTe thin films

The effects of CdCl2 processing on the physical and electro-optical properties of CdTe were evaluated for thin films produced by physical vapor deposition and close-spaced sublimation (CSS). Two substrates (CdS and Indium–tin–oxide) were used with the physical vapor deposition (PVD) films specifically to isolate the effects of the Cd(SxTe1−x) alloy formed during the treatment of films deposited on CdS. The samples were analyzed by x-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and photoluminescence. The observed changes in microstructure were caused by recrystallization, which consisted of the nucleation and development of a new CdTe structure and subsequent grain growth. Nevertheless, for these processes to take place, it was necessary that enough lattice-strain energy was available in the films. For this reason, PVD films did recrystallize, while CSS films did not. For the first time, recrystallization was observed directly in AFM images of CdTe films and confirmed by XRD analysis, which indica...

On the role of Na and modifications to Cu(In,Ga)Se/sub 2/ absorber materials using thin-MF (M=Na, K, Cs) precursor layers [solar cells]

The growth and characterization of Cu(In,Ga)Se/sub 2/ polycrystalline thin film solar cells under the presence of thin-MF (M=Na, K, Cs) precursor layers is presented. Some electrical, structural and electronic absorber properties due to the presence of such Group Ia impurities are quantified along with their influence in device performance. The authors present a growth model for the role of Na in Cu(In,Ga)Se/sub 2/ that attributes the enhancements in electrical conductivity and photovoltaic device performance to the extinction of a finite number of donor states (i.e., In/sub Cu/) at the bulk and grain-boundary regions.

CdCl2 treatment, S diffusion, and recombination in polycrystalline CdTe

Time-resolved photoluminescence measurements on glass∕SnO2∕CdTe and glass∕SnO2∕CdTe∕CdS structures indicate that the CdCl2 process, without any S present, significantly reduces recombination. However, S diffusion is required for lifetimes comparable to those observed in high-efficiency solar cells. Low-temperature photoluminescence, cathodoluminescence, and scanning electron images indicate how defect chemistry, grain-boundary passivation, and morphology are affected by S diffusion and the CdCl2 treatment.

Indications of short minority-carrier lifetime in kesterite solar cells

Solar cells based on kesterite absorbers consistently show lower voltages than those based on chalcopyrites with the same bandgap. We use three different experimental methods and associated data analysis to determine minority-carrier lifetime in a 9.4%-efficient Cu2ZnSnSe4 device. The methods are cross-sectional electron-beam induced current, quantum efficiency, and time-resolved photoluminescence. These methods independently indicate minority-carrier lifetimes of a few nanoseconds. A comparison of current-voltage measurements and device modeling suggests that these short minority-carrier lifetimes cause a significant limitation on the voltage produced by the device. The comparison also implies that low minority-carrier lifetime alone does not account for all voltage loss in these devices.

Use of a GaAsSb buffer layer for the formation of small, uniform, and dense InAs quantum dots

InAs quantum dots grown on GaAsSb buffer layers with varying Sb content have been studied. Atomic force microscopy results show that the dot size is reduced as the Sb content increases with a concomitant increase in number density. Analysis of the size distribution indicates that the spread of dot sizes narrows with increasing Sb content. This is confirmed by photoluminescence measurements showing a significant narrowing of the dot emission peak for a GaAs0.77Sb0.23 buffer compared to a GaAs buffer. The results are attributed to the strained buffer reducing interactions between dots and the Sb acting as a surfactant.

CdTe photoluminescence: Comparison of solar-cell material with surface-modified single crystals

Low-temperature photoluminescence (PL) is used to study defect evolution during Cu diffusion into single-crystal CdTe under various atmospheres. PL reveals a zero-order phonon peak at 1.456 eV when Cu-coated CdTe is annealed at 400 °C in an oxidizing atmosphere, but not under other tested conditions. A similar peak is seen in polycrystalline thin-film CdTe samples, which are known to contain copper and oxygen impurities. First-principles band structure calculations determined the likely defect assignment as a transition between a Cui–OTe donor complex and the valence band.

Changes in the dominant recombination mechanisms of polycrystalline Cu(In,Ga)Se2 occurring during growth

The changes in dominant recombination mechanisms of Cu(In,Ga)Se2 thin films grown from (In,Ga)2Se3 precursors are investigated using energy- and time-resolved photoluminescence. The results are analyzed with a rate-equation analysis and correlated with n/p diode measurements on processed devices. The experimental results quantify a change in the dominant radiative process and an improvement in the underlying material quality. These observations support a growth model incorporating changes in the dominant defect states and recombination mechanisms during this final stage of the growth process. Additionally, evidence is presented that supports the passivation of near-surface recombination sites by CdS.

InGaAs/GaAs QD superlattices: MOVPE growth, structural and optical characterization, and application in intermediate-band solar cells

We report on the growth and characterization of InGaAs/GaAs quantum dot (QD) superlattices for application in intermediate-band solar cells (IBSCs). Good optical and structural quality QD superlattices with up to 50 periods were obtained by metal-organic vapor-phase epitaxy (MOVPE) growth on {113}B GaAs substrates. Solar cells containing Si /spl part/-doped and undoped QD superlattice absorption regions have been fabricated and their performance compared with control cells containing undoped GaAs or undoped InGaAs/GaAs superlattice absorption regions. The QD superlattice cells exhibited photoresponses extended to longer wavelengths than the control cells. The introduction of QDs to the absorbing region of the solar cells resulted in a decrease in the open-circuit voltages and, in some cases, a decrease in the short-circuit currents of the cells.

Beneficial effect of post-deposition treatment in high-efficiency Cu(In,Ga)Se2 solar cells through reduced potential fluctuations

World-record power conversion efficiencies for Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGS) solar cells have been achieved via a post-deposition treatment with alkaline metals, which increases the open-circuit voltage and fill factor. We explore the role of the potassium fluoride (KF) post-deposition treatment in CIGS by employing energy- and time-resolved photoluminescence spectroscopy and electrical characterization combined with numerical modeling. The bulk carrier lifetime is found to increase with post-deposition treatment from 255 ns to 388 ns, which is the longest charge carrier lifetime reported for CIGS, and within ∼40% of the radiative limit. We find evidence that the post-deposition treatment causes a decrease in the electronic potential fluctuations. These potential fluctuations have previously been shown to reduce the open-circuit voltage and the device efficiency in CIGS. Additionally, numerical simulations based on the measured carrier lifetimes and mobilities show a diffusion length of ∼10 μm, which is ∼4 times la...

Cd-rich and Te-rich low-temperature photoluminescence in cadmium telluride

Low-temperature photoluminescence emission spectra were measured in cadmium telluride (CdTe) samples in which composition was varied to promote either Cd or Te-rich stoichiometry. The ability to monitor stoichiometry is important, since it has been shown to impact carrier recombination. Te-rich samples show transitions corresponding to acceptor-bound excitons (∼1.58 eV) and free-electron to acceptor transitions (∼1.547 eV). In addition to acceptor-bound excitons, Cd-rich samples show transitions assigned to donor-bound excitons (1.591 eV) and Te vacancies at 1.552 eV. Photoluminescence is a noninvasive way to monitor stoichiometric shifts induced by post-deposition anneals in polycrystalline CdTe thin films deposited by close-spaced sublimation.