In Situ Recrystallization of Co-Evaporated Cu(In,Ga)Se 2 Thin Films by Copper Chloride Vapor Treatment towards Solar Cell Applications

Deewakar Poudel, Benjamin Belfore, Tasnuva Ashrafee, Elizabeth Palmiotti, Shankar Karki, Grace Rajan, Thomas Lepetit, Angus Rockett and Sylvain Marsillac
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Deewakar Poudel: Virginia Institute of Photovoltaics, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23529, USA
Benjamin Belfore: Virginia Institute of Photovoltaics, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23529, USA
Tasnuva Ashrafee: Virginia Institute of Photovoltaics, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23529, USA
Elizabeth Palmiotti: Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO 80401, USA
Shankar Karki: Virginia Institute of Photovoltaics, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23529, USA
Grace Rajan: Virginia Institute of Photovoltaics, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23529, USA
Thomas Lepetit: Institut des Materiaux Jean Rouxel, Universite de Nantes, 44322 Nantes, France
Angus Rockett: Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO 80401, USA
Sylvain Marsillac: Virginia Institute of Photovoltaics, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23529, USA

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 13, 1-9

Abstract: Cu(In,Ga)Se 2 (or CIGS) thin films and devices were fabricated using a modified three-stage process. Using high deposition rates and a low temperature during the process, a copper chloride vapor treatment was introduced in between the second and third stages to enhance the films properties. X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy demonstrate that drastic changes occur after this recrystallization process, yielding films with much larger grains. Secondary ion mass spectrometry shows that the depth profile of many elements is not modified (such as Cu, In and Se) while others change dramatically (such as Ga and Na). Because of the competing effects of these changes, not all parameters of the solar cells are enhanced, yielding an increase of 15% in the device efficiency at the most.

Keywords: copper indium gallium selenide; metal halide; recrystallization; solar cell (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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