PREPARATION TECHNIQUES FOR THIN-FILM SOLAR-CELL MATERIALS - PROCESSING PERSPECTIVE

I-III-VI2 compound semiconductors are important photovoltaic (PV) mate rials with electrical and optical properties that can be tuned for opt imum device performance. Polycrystalline thin films of ternary and mul tinary compounds from the Cu (In, Ga) (Se, S)2 family have already yie lded laboratory size solar cells with over 15% efficiency. Large area PV modules with over 10% efficiency have also been demonstrated using these materials. In this contribution we briefly review the preparatio n techniques for thin film I-III-VI2 compounds with an emphasis on Cu( In, Ga)Se2 and discuss certain characteristics of these films that are important for good solar cell performance.