Brief review of cadmium telluride-based photovoltaic technologies

Abstract

Abstract. Cadmium telluride (CdTe) is the most commercially successful thin-film photovoltaic technology. Development of CdTe as a solar cell material dates back to the early 1980s when ∼10% efficient devices were demonstrated. Implementation of better quality glass, more transparent conductive oxides, introduction of a high-resistivity transparent film under the CdS junction-partner, higher deposition temperatures, and improved Cl-treatment, doping, and contacting approaches yielded >16% efficient cells in the early 2000s. Around the same time period, use of a photoresist plug monolithic integration process facilitated the demonstration of the first 11% efficient module. The most dramatic advancements in CdTe device efficiencies were made during the 2013 to 2014 time frame when small-area cell conversion efficiency was raised to 20% range and a champion module efficiency of 17% was reported. CdTe technology is attractive in terms of its limited life-cycle greenhouse gas and heavy metal emissions, small carbon footprint, and short energy payback times. Limited Te availability is a challenge for the growth of this technology unless Te utilization rates are greatly enhanced along with device efficiencies.

Flexible Perowskit‐Solarzellen: Herstellung und Anwendungen

“…Anders als fossile Brennstoffe verursacht Sonnenenergie keine Schäden an der Umwelt. B. polykristalline Silizium-Solarzellen (mc-Si-Zellen), [8] einkristalline Silizium-Solarzellen (c-Si-Zellen), [9][10][11] Dünnfilmsolarzellen, [12,13] CdTe-Solarzellen, [14,15] CIGS-Solarzellen, [16,17] GaAs-Solarzellen, [18] CZTS, [19][20][21] farbstoffsensibilisierte Solarzellen (DSSCs), [22] quantenpunktsensibilisierte Solarzellen (QDSSCs), [23] organische Photovoltaik (OPVs) [24] und Perowskit-Solarzellen (PSCs). [6,7] Insbesondere die Photovoltaik, die Sonnenlicht in Elektrizität umwandelt, hat enorme Aufmerksamkeit erfahren, weil sie das Potential hat, den weltweit steigenden Energiebedarf zu decken, ohne Schäden an der Umwelt zu verursachen.…”

Progress in development of graded bandgap thin film solar cells with electroplated materials

“…The In x Se y was deposited from an aqueous electrolytic bath containing 0.10 M InCl 3 and 0.025 M SeO 2 [20]. At a low [37][38], the low R sh which suggest high leakage current was observed in dark condition as shown in Table 1. From observation, an alteration in buffer layer from ZnS to In x Se y do not show any significant improvement in the electronic parameters of the fabricated cell.…”

The role of photonics in energy

“…2.1.3. Another commercially important class of materials is based on inorganic thin films, primarily related to the CdTe 21 and CuðIn; GaÞSe 2 (CIGS) materials systems. 22 CdTe solar cell efficiencies have been reported at 19.6% and CIGS at 20.5%.…”