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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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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