Optimization of the front end of CDTE solar cells

The front end of CdTe solar cells consists of two layers: a transparent conducting oxide (TCO) layer and a window layer. New wider band gap materials, ZnMgO are being used to replace CdS as the window layer for the purpose of removing blue loss. For ZnMgO, three important parameters, including the atomic Mg content (x), thickness (t), and doping concentration (n) can play important roles on the performance of CdTe solar cells. In this dissertation, systematic simulation, by solar cell capacitance simulator (SCAPS), and experiments are used to investigate the influences of these parameters on the performance of CdTe solar cells. The optimized parameters of the window layer are found as follows: 10% atomic Mg content to adjust the value of conduction band offset at 0.3 eV. 40 nm thickness with 10^{18} cm^{-3} doping concentration to form an n^+-p junction structure with the p-type CdTe absorber. Besides, the optimized thickness of different types of TCO is also theoretical calculated. Some novel ideas have been proposed and discussed, but may not be able to enhance the performance of CdTe solar cells.

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy in Materials Science and Engineering - (Ph.D.)

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Committee for the Interdisciplinary Program in Materials Science and Engineering

Year

2017

Author dc:creator

• Chen, Yunfei

Contributors dc:contributor

• Ken K. Chin
• Alan E. Delahoy
• N. M. Ravindra

• Front end
• Window layer
• TCO
• Thickness
• Electron affinity
• Doping concentration
• Materials Science and Engineering

Repository record dc:identifier

https://digitalcommons.njit.edu/dissertations/51

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.njit.edu:dissertations-1050