Substrate geometry CdTe solar cells with catalytically-grown nano-rough surfaces. Issue 14 (2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Papageorgiou, G.; Major, J.D.; Durose, K.
• Is Part Of: MRS advances. Volume 1:Issue 14(2016)
• Page Start: 985
• Page End: 990
• Publication Date: 2016
• Subjects: nanostructure, -- photovoltaic, -- II-VI; Electrical engineering -- Congresses; Physics -- Congresses; Materials -- Research -- Congresses; Materials science -- Congresses; 620.11
• DOI: 10.1557/adv.2016.153
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2059-8521

Abstract

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.