Progress on Low-Temperature Pulsed Electron Deposition of CuInGaSe2 Solar Cells

Abstract

Abstract:The quest for single-stage deposition of CuInGaSe 2 (CIGS) is an open race to replace very effective but capital intensive thin film solar cell manufacturing processes like multiple-stage coevaporation or sputtering combined with high pressure selenisation treatments. In this paper the most recent achievements of Low Temperature Pulsed Electron Deposition (LTPED), a novel single stage deposition process by which CIGS can be deposited at 250˝C, are presented and discussed. We show that selenium loss during the film deposition is not a problem with LTPED as good crystalline films are formed very close to the melting temperature of selenium. The mechanism of formation of good ohmic contacts between CIGS and Mo in the absence of any MoSe 2 transition layers is also illustrated, followed by a brief summary of the measured characteristics of test solar cells grown by LTPED. The 17% efficiency target achieved by lab-scale CIGS devices without bandgap modulation, antireflection coating or K-doping is considered to be a crucial milestone along the path to the industrial scale-up of LTPED. The paper ends with a brief review of the open scientific and technological issues related to the scale-up and the possible future applications of the new technology.

Deposition Technologies of High-Efficiency CIGS Solar Cells: Development of Two-Step and Co-Evaporation Processes

“…The printing method has even achieved efficiency of 17.1% [7]. In addition, a low-temperature pulsed electron deposition method for the growth of CIGS films was reported, by which a conversion efficiency of 17.0% for the CIGS solar cell was obtained [10]. Among various deposition methods, the two-step and co-evaporation processes have been widely employed for mass production of the large-scale CIGS-based modules [11,12].…”

CIGS-Based Flexible Solar Cells

“…In the search for simple and cost effective methods for the deposition of TFSC, a new process for the deposition of TFSC has been recently developed at IMEM-CNR in Parma, based on the Pulsed Electron Deposition (PED). This technique, already demonstrated the possibility to realize, on laboratory scale, CIGS-based TFSC with high PV conversion efficiency using a very cheap and simple method [3]. PED has important advantages, such as low installation and running costs and the capability to transfer of complex materials from a bulky target to the growing film in a singlestage process, without any post growth treatment.…”

“…The PED technique developed at IMEM-Parma is very efficient in reducing the deposition costs [3,17]. CIGS-based thin film solar cells with 17% efficiencies by using a low-temperature single-stage PED process, have been recently reported [3] on a small area, resulting in a dramatic simplification of the deposition process compared to the conventional methods.…”

“…The PED technique developed at IMEM-Parma is very efficient in reducing the deposition costs [3,17]. CIGS-based thin film solar cells with 17% efficiencies by using a low-temperature single-stage PED process, have been recently reported [3] on a small area, resulting in a dramatic simplification of the deposition process compared to the conventional methods. It is remarkable to note that the active layers were deposited by PED at 270°C, thus suggesting the possibility to use polymeric flexible substrates that usually do not stand high temperatures; this is extremely appealing for the BIPV/PIPV growing market.…”

The Pulsed Electron Deposition Technique for Biomedical Applications: A Review

“…With respect to PPD, IJD is characterized by a higher efficiency (82%-88%) [22] and leads to a more optimized stoichiometry conservation, turning out to be particularly suitable for: (i) the deposition of superconducting oxides or photoactive semiconductors, (ii) the production of crystalline thin films, and (iii) deposition on any kind of substrate, including thermo-sensitive materials. IJD has been tested for the deposition of SnS thin film layers, useful for photovoltaic applications [23,24]; amorphous chameleon coatings, namely, hard metal carbides and nitrides [25]; and macroscopically homogeneous, adhesive, and cross-linked poly(methylmetacrylate), polystyrene, polyvinylchloride coatings on stainless steel, and glass substrates [26]. As briefly summarized, since its introduction, PED has been exclusively exploited to obtain inorganic and organic coatings for photovoltaic or optoelectronic applications.…”