Characterization Of Cadmium Zinc Telluride Films And Solar Cells On Glass And Flexible Substrates By RF Sputtering

Author

Jagadish Gaduputi, University of South Florida

Graduation Year

2004

Document Type

Thesis

Degree

M.S.E.E.

Degree Granting Department

Electrical Engineering

Major Professor

Christos S.Ferekides, Ph.D.

Committee Member

Don L.Morel, Ph.D.

Committee Member

Yun.L.Chiou, Ph.D.

Keywords

polyimide, czt, tandem devices, photovoltaics

Abstract

High performance multijunction solar cells based on polycrystalline thin films will require a wide bandgap top cell with at least 15% efficiency. With the bottom cell being CIGS which have already demonstrated the required efficiencies, this work aims to study the complete fabrication and performance of Cd_1-xZn_xTe solar cells with a bandgap of 1.7eV on glass and flexible polyimide substrates.

Cd_1-xZn_xTe films were deposited by RF magnetron co-sputtering with CdTe and ZnTe sources. By varying the composition of Cd_1-xZn_xTe being deposited the required bandgap of 1.7eV was achieved. The optical and structural properties of the films were studied with optical transmission, SEM and XRD measurements. The films exhibited high optical transmission and pinhole free grain structure. CZT solar cells were fabricated on glass and flexible polyimide substrate and were analyzed by J-V and spectral response measurements. The effect of post deposition treatments and the effect of N₂ during sputtering on CZT device performance were studied.

Scholar Commons Citation

Gaduputi, Jagadish, "Characterization Of Cadmium Zinc Telluride Films And Solar Cells On Glass And Flexible Substrates By RF Sputtering" (2004). USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/etd/1041