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Preparation of novel CdS/ZnS composite window layer for CdTe thin film solar cell

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Abstract

In this work, a composite window layer of the sandwich structure containing CdS/ZnS multilayer for CdTe thin film solar cell was designed. Two composite windows of this kind with 5 cycles and 8 cycles CdS/ZnS respectively were prepared by pulsed laser deposition, and finally were fabricated into CdTe-based thin film solar cell. SEM images show that the pulsed laser deposited composite window layers have good crystallinity. CdS and ZnS are layer-by-layer stacking together as the design. In comparison with CdS single-layer window, the composite windows have a blue-shift transmittance edge due to introduction of wide-bandgap ZnS, and show higher transmittance in the short-wavelength region. CdTe solar cells with the composite window obtain further improved performance, including higher short-circuit current (JSC) and energy conversion efficiency. Also, enhanced QE of CdTe solar cells with the composite window is observed in both short-wavelength and visible region. Meanwhile, some differences exist in the J–V and QE curves between the two composite window solar cells, indicating the volume proportion of ZnS may be an important factor that affects the performance of CdTe solar cell with the CdS/ZnS composite window.

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Acknowledgments

This work acknowledges the support from Chinese National Programs for High Technology Research and Development (Nos. 2015AA050610 and 2011AA050519).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Materials Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610064, China

    Bo Liu, Run Luo, Qian Liang, Yan Zheng, Bing Li, Jingquan Zhang, Wei Li, Lili Wu & Lianghuan Feng

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  1. Bo Liu
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  2. Run Luo
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  3. Qian Liang
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  4. Yan Zheng
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  5. Bing Li
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  6. Jingquan Zhang
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  7. Wei Li
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  8. Lili Wu
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  9. Lianghuan Feng
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Correspondence to Bing Li.

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Liu, B., Luo, R., Liang, Q. et al. Preparation of novel CdS/ZnS composite window layer for CdTe thin film solar cell. J Mater Sci: Mater Electron 26, 9985–9990 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-015-3677-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-015-3677-9

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