ADVANCEMENTS IN COST EFFECTIVE PROCESSING FOR CdTe AND CulnSe_2 SOLAR CELLS

摘要

The compound semiconductor technologies based upon CdTe and CuInSe_2 have achieved remarkable efficiencies, in the 16% range, over the past two years. This level of performance in laboratory devices is sufficient to warrant commercialization efforts which are underway in the US and abroad. A number of important issues still remain in order to successfully transfer the current laboratory processes to a manufacturing environment. The highest efficiency CdTe devices were prepared at high temperatures (600°C) and required the use of expensive borosilicate glass. The record efficiency CuInSe_2 cells were fabricated using processes that involve significant and delicate control, or utilize H_2Se. This paper reports on recent progress in advancing the efficiencies of CdTe and CuInSe_2 solar cells prepared by manufacturing friendly processes.