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Characterization of rf sputtered Sb2Te3 thin films for back contacts to CdS/CdTe solar cells

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Abstract

We have studied the morphology and transport properties of magnetron sputtered Sb2Te3 films including their suitability as back contacts for sputtered CdS/CdTe solar cells. Sb2Te3 films were sputtered onto boro-aluminosilicate glass at temperatures from ~30 °C (room temperature) to 270 °C and characterized by X-ray diffraction, Hall-effect studies, and thermoelectric power measurements. Some films received post-deposition annealing up to 350 °C. Over these conditions, grain size reached 80 nm, hole carrier concentration 2 × 1020 cm−3, mobility 170 cm2/V s, and Seebeck coefficient 260 µV/K. Two-micron-thick CdS/CdTe solar cells completed with Sb2Te3/Mo back contacts yielded 10 % efficiency; however the addition of 3 nm of Cu after the Sb2Te3 yielded >12 % efficiency. Comparative results are also given for 300 h of accelerated life testing under one-sun illumination at 85 °C.

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Acknowledgments

The research was supported through the U.S. DOE University Photovoltaic Process and Product Development Program under Contract No. DE-FG36-08GO18067. The authors would like to thank David Sanchez and Katharine Gardinier from Materion [22] for providing the Sb2Te3 target and helpful discussions.

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  1. Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, 43606, USA

    N. R. Paudel, K. A. Wieland & A. D. Compaan

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  1. N. R. Paudel
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  2. K. A. Wieland
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  3. A. D. Compaan
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Correspondence to N. R. Paudel.

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Paudel, N.R., Wieland, K.A. & Compaan, A.D. Characterization of rf sputtered Sb2Te3 thin films for back contacts to CdS/CdTe solar cells. J Mater Sci: Mater Electron 26, 78–83 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-014-2366-4

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