Glass-SnO2 samples, which are typical superstrates for thin-him solar cells
, have been dipped in an appropriate sol-gel solution, and thus improved Si
O2-glass-SnO2-SiO2 superstrates have been obtained with a higher transmissi
on and a smoother surface, owing to the antireflective and levelling proper
ties of these SiO2 films. The electrodeposition of the photovoltaic absorbe
r CuInSe2 has been found homogeneous on SnO2 and heterogeneous on SiO2-coat
ed SnO2. CuInSe2 grows only onto specific SiO2 points, and the residual sub
strate area remains CuInSe2 free. Optical characterization of the samples h
as been performed in the visible and near-infrared spectral range. Morpholo
gical analysis have been carried out using atomic force microscopy. (C) 199
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