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Substrate geometry CdTe solar cells with catalytically-grown nano-rough surfaces

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 February 2016

G. Papageorgiou ,
J.D. Major  and
K. Durose
G. Papageorgiou*
Affiliation:
Stephenson Institute for Renewable Energy / Department of Physics, University of Liverpool, Chadwick Building, Peach St, Liverpool, L69 7ZF, United Kingdom
J.D. Major
Affiliation:
Stephenson Institute for Renewable Energy / Department of Physics, University of Liverpool, Chadwick Building, Peach St, Liverpool, L69 7ZF, United Kingdom
K. Durose
Affiliation:
Stephenson Institute for Renewable Energy / Department of Physics, University of Liverpool, Chadwick Building, Peach St, Liverpool, L69 7ZF, United Kingdom
*
*(Email: [email protected])
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Abstract

Substrate geometry CdTe solar cells have been modified with the addition of metal-catalysed nano-structures in order to influence their efficiency. Conditions for the growth of Au- and Bi-catalysed nanostructures were explored. The substrate devices themselves comprised indium tin oxide/CdS/CdTe/Mo foil and were developed using the MgCl2 alternative to the usual CdCl2 processing – this yielded open circuit voltages of up to 740 mV. It was demonstrated that the addition of Au-catalysed nanowires to 200 nm thick CdTe films on glass substrates decreased their optical transmission by 10%, this being significantly higher than for thick films. However, reproducibility issues with forming Bi nanostructures limited the device modification tests to the use of Au-catalysed wires, and these always acted to depress photovoltaic performance.

Keywords

nanostructurephotovoltaicII-VI
Type
Articles
Information
MRS Advances , Volume 1 , Issue 14: Energy and Sustainability , 2016 , pp. 985 - 990
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2016 

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References

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