Dominant Processing Factors in Two-Step Fabrication of Pure Sulfide CIGS Absorbers

Sarallah Hamtaei, Guy Brammertz, Marc Meuris, Jef Poortmans and Bart Vermang
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Sarallah Hamtaei: Institute for Material Research (IMO), Hasselt University (partner in Solliance), Wetenschapspark 1, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium
Guy Brammertz: Institute for Material Research (IMO), Hasselt University (partner in Solliance), Wetenschapspark 1, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium
Marc Meuris: Institute for Material Research (IMO), Hasselt University (partner in Solliance), Wetenschapspark 1, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium
Jef Poortmans: Institute for Material Research (IMO), Hasselt University (partner in Solliance), Wetenschapspark 1, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium
Bart Vermang: Institute for Material Research (IMO), Hasselt University (partner in Solliance), Wetenschapspark 1, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 16, 1-11

Abstract: Pure sulfide CIGS solar cells are interesting candidates for standalone solar cells or top cells in a tandem configuration. To understand the limits and improve the power conversion efficiency of these devices, a comprehensive approach aimed at composition, interface, and process engineering should be employed. Here, the latter was explored. Using a two-step fabrication technique and one-variable-at-a-time methodology, we found the four processing factors affecting the absorber the most. While two were already backed by the previous literature, we found new and statistical evidence for two other important factors as well. The impact of alkali barrier diffusion was also established with statistical significance and under various processing conditions. Furthermore, the absorber roughness for samples without a barrier indicated a significant negative linear correlation with the devices’ efficiency. This contribution could aid engineers in more efficient process designs.

Keywords: pure sulfide CIGS; two-step sequential processing; rapid thermal annealing (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
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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