Applications of Cd2SnO4 Transparent Conducting Oxides in CdS/CdTe Thin- Film Devices

摘要

An unusual processing scheme has been developed for preparing single- phase cadmium stannate (Cd2SnO4 or CTO) films. Cd2SnO4 transparent conducting oxide (TCO) films have several significant advantages over conventional TCOs when applied to CdS/CdTe thin-film devices. They are more conductive, more transparent, have lower surface roughness, are patternable, and are exceptionally stable. Cd2SnO4-based CdS/CdTe polycrystalline thin-film solar cells with efficiencies of 14% have been fabricated. Preliminary cell results have demonstrated that device performance can be enhanced by replacing the SnO2 layer with a Cd2SnO4 TCO film.