Deep study of MgCl2 as activator in CdS/CdTe solar cells. (October 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mis-Fernández, R.; Rimmaudo, I.; Rejón, V.; Hernandez-Rodriguez, E.; Riech, I.; Romeo, A.; Peña, J.L.
• Is Part Of: Solar energy. Volume 155(2017)
• Page Start: 620
• Page End: 626
• Publication Date: 2017-10
• Subjects: Solar cells -- CdTe/CdS -- Activation -- Magnesium chloride -- Solar energy; Solar energy -- Periodicals; Solar engines -- Periodicals; 621.47
• DOI: 10.1016/j.solener.2017.06.061
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0038-092X

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: The CdS/CdTe solar cell activation effect using an MgCl2 solution was investigated. The effects of the MgCl2 activation treatment brought out morphology and crystallization similar to those obtained by CHClF2 . The MgCl2 activation treatment enhances the intermixing between CdS and CdTe. MgCl2 gives similar efficiency than usual activators (12.5%). Abstract: The activation process using chlorine compounds is considered an important issue in CdTe solar cells technology. For a long time researchers have tried to replace the most successful CdCl2 activator with a non-toxic compound more suitable for industrial production. In the last years many alternatives were presented, among them the most promising is the MgCl2 . In this work we study the CdTe activated using MgCl2 solution. Its chemical, physical and electrical transformations were deeply investigated. FESEM, EDS, XRD, and XPS characterization bring out the presence of MgO and residues of another's oxides on the CdTe surface. The impact of these oxides on the solar cell performance was studied by EQE, J-V, C-V and DLCP . The solar cell activated with MgCl2 had an efficiency of 12.5%; the Voc, Jsc and FF were 831 mV, 23.3 mA/cm 2 and 64.5%, respectively, in a device with an area of 0.5 cm 2 .