We report the optical properties of ZnTe1-x O x (ZnTeO) and evidence for the photovoltaic (PV) activity of a ZnTeO intermediate band solar cell (IBSC). By photomodulated reflectance measurements, electron transitions from the intermediate band to the conduction band were demonstrated. The optical absorption coefficients for the electron transition from the valence band to the intermediate band exceeds 2×104 cm-1, suitable for thin-film PV device applications. The ZnTeO IBSC exhibits an enhanced spectral response below the band edge of ZnTe, and all results are consistent with the proposed conversion mechanism of IBSC.

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