Electroplating of CdTe Thin Films from Cadmium Sulphate Precursor and Comparison of Layers Grown by 3-Electrode and 2-Electrode Systems

Dharmadasa, I. M.; Madugu, M.L.; Olusola, O. I.; Echendu, O. K.; Fauzi, F.; Diso, D G; Weerasinghe, A R; Druffel, Thad; Dharmadasa, Ruvini; Lavery, Brandon W.; Jasiński, Jacek B.; Krentsel, Tatiana A.; Суманасекера, Гамини

doi:10.3390/coatings7020017

Cited by 33 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…Both 3-electrode and 2-electrode systems have been used to deposit CdTe and it has been proven that CdTe layers grown from 2-electrode systems produce better devices [33]. The main reason to remove the reference electrode from the 3-electrode system is to avoid contamination of detrimental group-I impurities such as K and Ag.…”

Section: Growth Of Cdte By Electrodepositionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Unravelling complex nature of CdS/CdTe based thin film solar cells

Dharmadasa

Ojo

2017

J Mater Sci: Mater Electron

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and high-temperature growth techniques. The wide bandgap (E g = 2.42 eV) window material, CdS was mainly grown by chemical bath deposition (CBD) and narrow bandgap (E g = 1.45 eV) absorber material, CdTe was grown by over 14 different methods [1]. High efficiencies were achieved by the combination of CdS with CdTe layers grown by high temperature growth methods such as closed space sublimation (CSS) or close spaced vapour transport (CSVT) for a long period. Depending on the growth technique, material growth mechanisms, micro-structure and impurity inclusions are going to vary. Although there are a large number of publications reporting material characterisation, deep understanding is required on material issues such as defects and doping concentrations.The next area needing deeper understanding is the postgrowth chemical and heat treatment. The devices fabricated using as-made CdTe materials show poor device performance in the range ~(0-6)% depending on the growth technique used. However, from 1976 [2], the researchers were aware of the drastic improvement of the device performance after heat treatment around 450 °C in air, in the presence of CdCl 2 . This was known as "CdCl 2 treatment" and device efficiencies improved to mid-teens achieving good solar cell performance. Although there were tremendous efforts to explore the complexity of changes during this treatment, full understanding has not yet been achieved.The third main area of complexity comes from the CdTe/electrical back contact formation. It is essential to clean the CdTe surface after CdCl 2 treatment, and researchers were using different chemicals to clean the surface prior to metallisation. Various electrical contacts have been used to complete the devices and varying results have been reported in the literature [3]. Initial high efficiency, reproducibility and yield, stability and lifetime are main features of fully fabricated devices to establish. Some of these Abstract Thin film solar cells based on CdS/CdTe hetero-structure has shown a drastic improvement changing from 16.5 to 22.1% efficiency during a short period of time from ~2013 to ~2016. This has happened in the industrial environment and the open research in this field has stagnated over a period of two decades prior to ~2013. Most of the issues of this hetero-structure were not clear to the photovoltaic (PV) community and research efforts should be directed to unravel its complex nature. Issues related to materials, post-growth treatment, chemical etching prior to metallisation and associated device physics are the main areas needing deeper understanding in order to further develop this device. After a comprehensive research programme in both academia and in industry on these materials, surfaces and interfaces and fully fabricated devices over a period of over three decades by the main author, the current knowledge as understood today, on all above mentioned complex issues are presented in this paper. Full understanding of this structure will enable PV developers to further improve the ...

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Section: Growth Of Cdte By Electrodepositionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Unravelling complex nature of CdS/CdTe based thin film solar cells

Dharmadasa

Ojo

2017

J Mater Sci: Mater Electron

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“…With the progress of nanomaterials fabrication techniques, various high quality semiconductor NCs have been synthesized and investigated. However, only a few of these materials such as PbS [7,8], PbSe [9], CdTe [10][11][12], and CuInSe 2 (CIS) [13,14], have been successfully exploited for photovoltaic application. Among these materials, CdTe may be one of the most studied NCs due to their reasonable At an optimized heat treatment temperature of 380 • C, we obtained the best device, with V oc = 0.56 V, J sc = 17.26 mA/cm 2 , FF = 52.84%, and PCE = 5.14%.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Solution-Processed Efficient Nanocrystal Solar Cells Based on CdTe and CdS Nanocrystals

Liu

Heng

et al. 2018

Coatings

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Solution-processed CdTe nanocrystals solar cells have attracted much attention due to their low cost, low material consumption, and potential for roll-to-roll production. Among all kinds of semiconductor materials, CdS exhibits the lowest lattice mismatch with CdTe, which permits high junction quality and high device performance. In this study, high quality CdS nanocrystals were prepared by a non-injection technique with tetraethylthiuram disufide and 2,2 -dithiobisbenzothiazole as the stabilizers. Based on the CdTe and CdS nanocrystals, devices with the architecture of ITO/ZnO/CdS/CdTe/MoO x /Au were fabricated successfully by a solution process under ambient condition. The effects of annealing conditions, film thickness, and detailed device structure on the CdTe/CdS nanocrystal solar cells were investigated and discussed in detail. We demonstrate that high junction quality can be obtained by using CdS nanocrystal thin film compared to traditional CdS film via chemical bath deposition (CBD). The best device had short circuit current density (J sc ), open circuit voltage (V oc ) and fill factor (FF) of 17.26 mA/cm 2 , 0.56 V, and 52.84%, respectively, resulting in a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 5.14%, which is significantly higher than that reported using CBD CdS as the window layer. This work provides important suggestions for the further improvement of efficiency in CdTe nanocrystal solar cells.

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“…The CV for 0.2 M shows that Zn-reduction (Zn 2+ + 2e → Zn) was taking place at −1.25 V. The reduction of Sn (Sn 2+ + 2e → Sn) was found at −1.1 V, and the peak reduction of Cu (Cu 2+ + 2e → Cu) was found at −0.9 V. Sulfur exhibited a reduction peak (S 2+ + 2e → S) at −0.75 V. In contrast with the bath without citrate, the difference between S and Zn reduction peaks was of 0.95 V. The citrate complex was able to bring the reduction peaks of the ions present in the electrolyte closer together, facilitating the process of electrodeposition. PEC cell was calibrated against CdS, a well-known n-type semiconductor [11]. A negative signal was obtained from this n-type semiconductor, meaning that any positive signal pertained to a p-type semiconductor.…”

Section: Cyclic Voltammetrymentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of Trisodium Citrate on the Properties of Electrodeposited Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) Layers on ZnS Thin Films Using a 2-Electrode Method

Hernandez¹,

Weerasinghe²

2018

AMPC

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Electrodeposition of CZTS thin films on ZnS was carried using a 2-electrode method to fabricate superstrate structure solar cells. A comprehensive study was performed on the effects of trisodium citrate on the CZTS electrolyte bath. In the present investigation, it is demonstrated that using a CZTS electrolyte with a concentration of 0.2 M trisodium citrate yields CZTS thin films with an electronic bandgap of 1.52 eV, a p-type nature, and good uniformity, which are all results desired for the fabrication of thin film solar cells. Characterization was performed using UV-Vi-IR optical absorption, SEM imaging, Raman spectrometry, and photoelectrochemical cells conducted for electronic bandgap, morphology, chemical composition, and semiconductor conductivity, respectively.

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Electroplating of CdTe Thin Films from Cadmium Sulphate Precursor and Comparison of Layers Grown by 3-Electrode and 2-Electrode Systems

Cited by 33 publications

References 33 publications

Unravelling complex nature of CdS/CdTe based thin film solar cells

Unravelling complex nature of CdS/CdTe based thin film solar cells

Solution-Processed Efficient Nanocrystal Solar Cells Based on CdTe and CdS Nanocrystals

Effect of Trisodium Citrate on the Properties of Electrodeposited Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) Layers on ZnS Thin Films Using a 2-Electrode Method

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