Thin film CdTe-CdS heterojunction solar cells on lightweight metal substrates

An unconventional thin film CdTe-CdS solar cell device configuration, in wh ich the substrate is molybdenum foil and CdS is deposited on top of CdTe, w as developed. A conducting contact between Mo and CdTe was achieved by usin g thin interlayers. The CdTe-CdS junction process development led to an ope n circuit voltage of 824 mV. CdCl2 treatment followed by oxygen annealing g reatly improved solar cell performance. An initial study of capacitance-vol tage data has shown a depletion layer width of 4.62 mu m into CdTe in the d ark, Cell efficiency of 5.3% was achieved. Higher cell efficiency is now be ing sought by improving the top contact to CdS and lowering series resistan ce. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.