Highly efficient CIS solar cells and modules made by the co-evaporation process

Powalla, Michael; Voorwinden, G.; Hariskos, Dimitrios; Jackson, Philip; Kniese, R.

doi:10.1016/j.tsf.2008.10.126

Cited by 90 publications

(44 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…The absorbers of the latest record-efficiency solarcell devices based on Cu(InGa)Se 2 (CIGS) were prepared by three-or multi-stage evaporation processes [1,2]. This is at least in part attributed to the fact that this process gives rise to a spontaneous 'notch' grading of the gallium content GGI := [Ga]/[In + Ga] [3], for which Gabor et al offer a growth model [4].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of gallium grading in Cu(In,Ga)Se2 solar-cell absorbers produced by multi-stage coevaporation

Schleussner

Zimmermann

Wätjen

et al. 2011

Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells

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This is an author produced version of a paper published in Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells. This paper has been peer-reviewed but does not include the final publisher proof-corrections or journal pagination. AbstractWe investigate Cu(InGa)Se 2 thin films grown in multi-stage coevaporation processes and solar cells fabricated from such absorbers. Despite some interdiffusion during film growth, Ga/(Ga+In) gradients defined via evaporation-profile variations in the process are to a good part retained in the finished film. This indicates that the bandgap can be engineered in this type of process by varying the evaporation profiles, and consequently also that unintended profile variations should be noted and avoided. With front-side gradients the topmost part of many grains seems to be affected by a higher density of lattice defects due to the strong change of gallium content under copper-poor growth conditions. Electrically, both back-side gradients and moderate front-side gradients are shown to yield an improvement of device efficiency. If a front-side gradient is too wide, though, it causes strong voltage-dependent collection and the fill factor is severely reduced.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of gallium grading in Cu(In,Ga)Se2 solar-cell absorbers produced by multi-stage coevaporation

Schleussner

Zimmermann

Wätjen

et al. 2011

Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells

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“…Keeping the [Cu]/([Ga]+[In]) ratio near stoichiometry at all times during the deposition makes it possible to tailor the [Ga]/([Ga]+[In]) ratio through the depth of the solar cell. In a direct comparison between a single-stage and a multistage process in the same evaporation system, the single-stage process led to lower efficiency [3]. In this paper, we show that efficiencies of up to 18.6% can be obtained with an inline deposition process, using a linear gradient with no notch and with a total active deposition time of 17.5 min using three metal sources and with a substrate Manuscript temperature of 520 • C. The baseline processes, as well as the substrates used, are standard processes that have been developed for reproducibility and robustness and not primarily for highest efficiencies.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Inline Cu(In,Ga)Se$_{2}$ Co-evaporation for High-Efficiency Solar Cells and Modules

Lindahl

Zimmermann

Szaniawski

et al. 2013

IEEE J. Photovoltaics

152

102

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In this paper, co-evaporation of Cu(In,Ga)Se 2 (CIGS) in an inline single-stage process is used to fabricate solar cell devices with up to 18.6% conversion efficiency using a CdS buffer layer and 18.2% using a Zn 1 −x Sn x O y Cd-free buffer layer. Furthermore, a 15.6-cm 2 mini-module, with 16.8% conversion efficiency, has been made with the same layer structure as the CdS baseline cells, showing that the uniformity is excellent. The cell results have been externally verified. The CIGS process is described in detail, and material characterization methods show that the CIGS layer exhibits a linear grading in the [Ga]/([Ga]+[In]) ratio, with an average [Ga]/([Ga]+[In]) value of 0.45. Standard processes for CdS as well as Cd-free alternative buffer layers are evaluated, and descriptions of the baseline process for the preparation of all other steps in theÅngström Solar Center standard solar cell are given.

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“…In order to achieve monolithic series interconnection of a module over a single substrate (thus achieving higher output voltage and significantly reduced series resistance losses), patterning of the bottom contact, absorber and front contact is often used. [115,116] Reducing the area of the inactive interconnection zones by higher definition patterning increases the useable module area. While the most popular chalcopyrite patterning method today is mechanical scribing, patterning by printing can reduce the number of processing steps.…”

Section: Direct Liquid-coating Techniques Suitable For Large-area Inmentioning

confidence: 99%

Direct Liquid Coating of Chalcopyrite Light‐Absorbing Layers for Photovoltaic Devices

Todorov¹,

Mitzi²

2009

Eur J Inorg Chem

223

160

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Liquid deposition approaches for chalcopyrite films used in thin-film photovoltaic devices are reviewed. Most of the targeted materials are based on Cu-In or Cu-In-Ga sulfides and selenides (i.e., CIS or CIGS, respectively), although recently related alternative materials based on abundant and nontoxic elements such as the kesterite Cu 2 ZnSnS 4 have been actively investigated. By direct liquid coating we refer collectively to a variety of techniques characterized by distributing a liquid or a paste to the surface of a substrate, followed by necessary thermal/chemical treatments to achieve the desired phase. The deposition media used are solutions or particle (usually submicrometer size) suspensions of metal oxide, organic and inorganic compounds, including metal chalcogenide species. The deposition techniques used are mainly printing and spin-coating, although any standard process such as

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Highly efficient CIS solar cells and modules made by the co-evaporation process

Cited by 90 publications

References 2 publications

Effect of gallium grading in Cu(In,Ga)Se2 solar-cell absorbers produced by multi-stage coevaporation

Effect of gallium grading in Cu(In,Ga)Se2 solar-cell absorbers produced by multi-stage coevaporation

Inline Cu(In,Ga)Se$_{2}$ Co-evaporation for High-Efficiency Solar Cells and Modules

Direct Liquid Coating of Chalcopyrite Light‐Absorbing Layers for Photovoltaic Devices

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