Why CuInGaSe₂ and CdTe polycrystalline thin film solar cells are more efficient than the corresponding single crystal?

Abstract

Recently, very high conversion efficiencies in thin film polycrystalline solar cells have been reported. In particular it was reached an efficiency record both for CuInGaSe 2 (CIGS) and CdTe that are 19.2% and 16.5% respectively. We will briefly describe the technological methods used to fabricate these thin film solar cells. Besides, we will try to explain the reason why thin film polycrystalline devices can achieve conversion efficiency comparable with those shown by single crystal solar cells (mono-Si or poly-Si). We will take into consideration the tricks present in both the methods that allow to make the CIGS/CdS and CdTe/CdS thin film solar cells with excellent performances. We will show also, that these technologies are ripe for an "inline" industrial production and this makes thin film solar cells the best candidates for the large scale utilisation of photovoltaic energy conversion.

Effect of electron irradiation on the properties of CdTe/CdS solar cells

“…CdTe/CdS solar cells with the highest conversion efficiency of 16.5% have been prepared using the CSS method [8]. It is reported that polycrystalline CdTe/ CdS solar cells perform better than single-crystal CdTe/ CdS cells [9]. Solar cells have been widely used in satellites, space stations and space vehicles as power sources, which operate in radiation environments.…”

Deposition and characterization of NiOx coatings by magnetron sputtering for application in dye-sensitized solar cells

“…DSSCs are photovoltaic devices that present the advantage of being fabricated through low-cost processes and do not require photoactive materials with a high degree of purity [1]. However, their efficiency is generally lower than the best-performing thin film solar cells based on IV-VI semiconductors (CdTe~16 %, CIGS~19 % lab efficiency) [3] and crystalline silicon (~23 % lab efficiency) [4]. In the case of conventional DSSCs, dye sensitization involves solely the semiconductor anode made of ntype TiO 2 nanoparticles [1,5].…”

Development and Simulation of a Structure Based on CuIn1-xGaxSe2 Semiconductors Alloys for a New Generation of Photovoltaic Cells

“…Where is the photon flux to the Air Mass Coefficient (AM) of spectrum in standard PV modules test conditions referenced AM 1.5 [9][10][11][12][13].…”