Abstract
The effects of antimony (Sb) doping of the CdTe layer in the CdTe solar cells were investigated using Sb-doped CdTe powders as source materials for CdTe deposition by the close-spaced sublimation (CSS) method. Conversion efficiency increased with increasing Sb concentration below 1×1018 cm-3, mainly owing to the improvement of the fill factor. Secondary ion microprobe mass spectrometry (SIMS) depth profile revealed that the Sb impurities at a concentration of approximately 1×1016 cm-3 were incorporated into the CdTe layer when using the Sb-doped CdTe source of 1×1018 cm-3. The observation of surface morphology showed that the grain sizes were improved by Sb addition. Therefore, the improved performance upon Sb addition to CdTe solar cells was probably due to the improvements in crystallinity, such as increased grain size.