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Development of CdCl2 Activation to Minimize Zn Loss from Sputtered Cd1-xZnxTe Thin Films for Use in Tandem Solar Cells

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 July 2018

Fadhil K. Alfadhili ,
Geethika K. Liyanage Open the ORCID record for Geethika K. Liyanage [Opens in a new window] ,
Adam B. Phillips  and
Michael J. Heben
Fadhil K. Alfadhili
Affiliation:
Wright Center for Photovoltaics Innovation and Commercialization, School for Solar and Advanced Renewable Energy, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA 43606
Geethika K. Liyanage
Affiliation:
Wright Center for Photovoltaics Innovation and Commercialization, School for Solar and Advanced Renewable Energy, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA 43606
Adam B. Phillips*
Affiliation:
Wright Center for Photovoltaics Innovation and Commercialization, School for Solar and Advanced Renewable Energy, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA 43606
Michael J. Heben
Affiliation:
Wright Center for Photovoltaics Innovation and Commercialization, School for Solar and Advanced Renewable Energy, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA 43606
*
*(Email: Adam.Phillips@utoledo.edu)
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Abstract

Increasing the band gap of cadmium telluride (CdTe) from 1.48 eV to > 2 eV can be achieved by alloying CdTe with ZnTe. Like CdTe, the alloyed films are expected to allow for low cost production, suggesting that Cd1-xZnxTe could be an ideal top cell for mass produced tandem devices. However, the CdCl2 activation of the alloyed films results in a significant loss of Zn, thereby reducing the bandgap. In this study, we demonstrate a novel CdCl2 activation method that does not result in significant Zn loss. By performing the activation step in a closed, inert environment we are able to avoid oxidation of the Zn in the Cd1-xZnxTe film; furthermore, by including sacrificial Zn in the container, an overpressure of ZnCl2 forms limiting the amount of ZnCl2 formed in the film. Both x-ray diffraction, optical measurements, and Auger spectroscopy show that the CdCl2 treatment with no flowing gas minimizes the loss of Zn from the CZT alloy.

Keywords

thin filmphotovoltaicII-VI
Type
Articles
Information
MRS Advances , Volume 3 , Issue 52: Energy Materials and Technologies , 2018 , pp. 3129 - 3134
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2018 

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