Understanding what limits the voltage of polycrystalline CdSeTe solar cells

Arthur Onno (), Carey Reich, Siming Li, Adam Danielson, William Weigand, Alexandra Bothwell, Sachit Grover, Jeff Bailey, Gang Xiong, Darius Kuciauskas, Walajabad Sampath and Zachary C. Holman ()
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Arthur Onno: Arizona State University
Carey Reich: Colorado State University
Siming Li: National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Adam Danielson: Colorado State University
William Weigand: Arizona State University
Alexandra Bothwell: National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Sachit Grover: First Solar Inc.
Jeff Bailey: First Solar Inc.
Gang Xiong: First Solar Inc.
Darius Kuciauskas: National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Walajabad Sampath: Colorado State University
Zachary C. Holman: Arizona State University

Nature Energy, 2022, vol. 7, issue 5, 400-408

Abstract: Abstract The origin of voltage deficits in polycrystalline cadmium selenide telluride (CdSeTe) solar cells is unclear. Here, we present a comprehensive voltage loss analysis performed on state-of-the-art CdSeTe devices—fabricated at Colorado State University and First Solar—using photoluminescence techniques, including external radiative efficiency (ERE) measurements. More specifically, we report the thermodynamic voltage limit Voc,ideal, internal voltage iVoc and external voltage Voc of partially and fully finished cells fabricated with different dopant species, dopant concentrations and back contacts. Arsenic-doped aluminium-oxide-passivated cells made at Colorado State University present remarkably high ERE (>1%)—translating into iVoc above 970 mV—but suffer from poor back-contact selectivity. On the other hand, arsenic-doped devices from First Solar present almost perfect carrier selectivity (Voc = iVoc), leading to Voc above 840 mV, and are limited by recombination in various parts of the device. Thus, development of contact structures that are both passivating and selective in combination with highly luminescent absorbers is key to reducing voltage losses.

Date: 2022
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DOI: 10.1038/s41560-022-00985-z

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