CONTINUOUS, IN-LINE PROCESSING OF CdS/CdTe DEVICES: PROGRESS TOWARDSCONSISTENT STABILITY

摘要

A technology for continuous in-line processing of thin film CdS/CdTe devices has been developed inour laboratory. A CdTe PV device fabrication system has been operating for approximately 6 years and a fullprototype manufacturing system for 16.5 × 16.5 inch substrates is under construction. Utilizing this technology, it hasbeen demonstrated that at optimum process conditions good device stability (resistance to performance degradation)can be obtained. Two results pertaining to CdTe device stability are presented here: 1) The process conditions,particularly the CdCl2 treatment, have a significant effect on device stability and 2) a saturation in the loss ofefficiency over time in accelerated indoor stress has been observed for a large number of devices.