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Solar Energy pp 1–28Cite as

CdTe Solar Cells

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Definition of the Subject

CdTe thin film solar cells and modules are currently the driving force for production cost reduction in the whole photovoltaic sector. The device concept is simple consisting of multilayer stack of metal and semiconducting thin films. For the deposition of these layers a variety of large area and high-speed deposition methods are available. The CdTe solar cell as it is known today was first described in 1969 by Adirovich et al. [1]. In the beginning of the twenty-first century CdTe solar modules dominated the PV market in terms of production volume and lowest cost. This chapter is a review of more than 40 years of research and development activities and hot topics in the field of CdTe thin film photovoltaics.

Introduction

Still today the photovoltaic (PV) market is dominated by silicon wafer-based solar modules; however, in 2009 the annual production volume of CdTe thin film solar modules...

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Abbreviations

CdTe:

Inorganic compound semiconductor with high absorption coefficient (larger than 104 cm−1) and almost ideal energy bandgap (1.49 eV) for terrestrial photovoltaic applications.

Conversion efficiency:

Ratio between the useful electrical power of the solar cell or module to the incoming sunlight power (here called efficiency). The conversion efficiency of solar cells and modules depends on external parameters such as temperature, irradiation intensity, and spectrum. For comparable results the conversion efficiency has to be measured under standard test conditions (STC). If not otherwise mentioned the presented efficiency values are measured under STC.

Heterojunction:

A pn-junction where the p- and n-type semiconductors are different materials such as a junction in the CdTe/CdS stack.

Photovoltaic (effect):

Direct conversion of the sunlight into electricity, first discovered by A. E. Becquerel in 1839.

pn-junction:

Combination of p- and n-type semiconductors for the separation of charge carriers generated by the photovoltaic effect.

Solar cell:

Electronic device for direct conversion of solar energy into electrical energy using the photovoltaic effect (also called photovoltaic cell).

Solar module:

Interconnection of a number of solar cells in series for increasing the output voltage or in parallel for increasing the output current.

Standard test conditions (STC):

Definition of the external parameters for the device under test during determination of the photovoltaic performance. These include a defined irradiation intensity of 100 mW/cm2, a reference illumination spectrum AM1.5 G, and device temperature of 25 °C.

Thin film:

Layer of material with thickness between sub-nanometer and few micrometers. Thin film solar cells consist of a stack of several thin films with different properties and functions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory for Thin Films and Photovoltaics, EMPA – Swiss Federal Laboratory for Materials Science and Technology, Ueberlandstr. 129, 8600, Duebendorf, Switzerland

    Dr. Stephan Buecheler, Dr. Lukas Kranz, Dr. Julian Perrenoud & Prof. Dr. Ayodhya Nath Tiwari

Authors
  1. Dr. Stephan Buecheler
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  2. Dr. Lukas Kranz
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  3. Dr. Julian Perrenoud
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  4. Prof. Dr. Ayodhya Nath Tiwari
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Stephan Buecheler .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Plataforma Solar de Almeria Institute of Solar Research DLR – German Aerospace Centre, Cologne, Germany

    Christoph Richter

  2. Institute of Research and Development of Photovoltaic Energy, Chatou Cedex, France

    Daniel Lincot

  3. Solar Consulting Services, Colebrook, NH, USA

    Christian A. Gueymard

Abbreviations

ALD

Atomic layer deposition

APVTD

Atmospheric pressure vapor transport deposition

AR

Antireflection

ASG

Aluminosilicate glass

AZO

Aluminum doped zinc oxide

BI

Battelle-Institute e.V

BM

Bromine methanol

BSG

Borosilicate glass

CBD

Chemical bath deposition

CIGS

Copper indium gallium diselenide

CNRS

French National Center for Scientific Research

CSS

Close space sublimation

CTO

Cadmium stannate

CVD

Chemical vapor deposition

ED

Electrodeposition

EH&S

Environmental, health hazard, and safety issues

EQE

External quantum efficiency

ETHZ

Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich

FF

Fill factor

FTO

Fluorine doped tin oxide

GBs

Grain boundaries

HRT

Highly resistive and transparent oxide

HTVPD

High-temperature vapor phase deposition

HVE

High vacuum deposition

IEC

Institute for Energy Conversion, University of Delaware

IQE

Internal quantum efficiency

ITO

Tin doped indium oxide

Jsc

Short circuit current density

NP

Nitric-phosphoric acid

NREL

National renewable energy laboratory

PI

Polyimide

PV

Photovoltaic

R

Reflectance

R&D

Research and Development

SEM

Scanning electron microscopy

SLG

Soda-lime glass

STC

Standard test condition

T

Transmittance

TCO

Transparent conductive oxide

UNAM

Centro de Investigacin en Energa, Solar Materials Department, Temixco, Morelos 62

VOC

Open circuit voltage

VTD

Vapor transport deposition

XRD

X-ray diffraction

ZTO

Zinc stannate

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Buecheler, S., Kranz, L., Perrenoud, J., Tiwari, A.N. (2013). CdTe Solar Cells. In: Richter, C., Lincot, D., Gueymard, C.A. (eds) Solar Energy. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-5806-7_463

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