Chemical compositional non-uniformity and its effects on CIGS solar cell performance at the nm-scale

Wenjie Li; Sidney Cohen; Konstantin Gartsman; Raquel Caballero; Palle Van Huth; Ronit Popovitz-Biro; David Cahen

doi:10.1016/j.solmat.2011.10.024

Chemical compositional non-uniformity and its effects on CIGS solar cell performance at the nm-scale

Wenjie Li, Sidney Cohen, Konstantin Gartsman, Raquel Caballero, Palle Van Huth, Ronit Popovitz-Biro, David Cahen

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

11 Scopus citations

Abstract

Compositional uniformity of Cu(In,Ga)Se ₂ (CIGS) solar cells was studied, using thin cross sections of complete cells prepared by focused ion beam (FIB) and examined in the transmission electron microscope (TEM). This methodology revealed the compositional variations at the nm-scale. The Ga and In compositions vary not only between neighboring grains, but also inside individual single crystal grains along their growth direction, which explains the electrical non-uniformity seen in electron beam-induced current (EBIC) measurements. The improved compositional uniformity with increase in sample preparation temperature correlates with higher solar cell efficiency.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	78-82
Number of pages	5
Journal	Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells
Volume	98
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solmat.2011.10.024
State	Published - Mar 2012
Externally published	Yes

Funding

The authors thank T. Münchenberg, C. Kelch and M. Kirsch for technical support and D. Abou-Ras for helpful discussions. We are grateful for funding from the German ministry for environment (BMU) under contract #0327559H .

Funders	Funder number
German Ministry for Environment
Baqai Medical University	0327559H

Keywords

Composition
CuInGaSe
Efficiency
Grain
Solar cell
Thin film

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1016/j.solmat.2011.10.024

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title = "Chemical compositional non-uniformity and its effects on CIGS solar cell performance at the nm-scale",

abstract = "Compositional uniformity of Cu(In,Ga)Se 2 (CIGS) solar cells was studied, using thin cross sections of complete cells prepared by focused ion beam (FIB) and examined in the transmission electron microscope (TEM). This methodology revealed the compositional variations at the nm-scale. The Ga and In compositions vary not only between neighboring grains, but also inside individual single crystal grains along their growth direction, which explains the electrical non-uniformity seen in electron beam-induced current (EBIC) measurements. The improved compositional uniformity with increase in sample preparation temperature correlates with higher solar cell efficiency.",

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AU - Li, Wenjie

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AU - Gartsman, Konstantin

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AU - Van Huth, Palle

AU - Popovitz-Biro, Ronit

AU - Cahen, David

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AB - Compositional uniformity of Cu(In,Ga)Se 2 (CIGS) solar cells was studied, using thin cross sections of complete cells prepared by focused ion beam (FIB) and examined in the transmission electron microscope (TEM). This methodology revealed the compositional variations at the nm-scale. The Ga and In compositions vary not only between neighboring grains, but also inside individual single crystal grains along their growth direction, which explains the electrical non-uniformity seen in electron beam-induced current (EBIC) measurements. The improved compositional uniformity with increase in sample preparation temperature correlates with higher solar cell efficiency.

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KW - Efficiency

KW - Grain

KW - Solar cell

KW - Thin film

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Chemical compositional non-uniformity and its effects on CIGS solar cell performance at the nm-scale

Abstract

Funding

Keywords

UN SDGs

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