Alternative procedure for the fabrication of close-spaced sublimated CdTe solar cells

We deposited CdTe thin films by close-spaced sublimtation using an alternat ive procedure, with temperatures about 170 degrees C lower than the ones us ed in the standard procedure. These films were used in the fabrication of a ll thin-film CdTe/CdS solar cells. We treated the cells using the well-esta blished CdCl2 dipping process as well as a new vapor treatment. The vapor p rocess was more reproducible and easier to control, and it produced the bes t devices. This process was also much more effective in the recrystallizati on of the CdTe films. The best device that we produced had an efficiently o f 11.6%, close to the 12.3% efficiency of the best device fabricated using the standard process. These results show that the new process has good pote ntial, and besides being an alternative for lower-cost solar cell prouction , it can also produce high-efficiency devices. (C) 2000 American Vacuum Soc iety. [S0734-2101(00)12604-1].