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

Weizmann Institute of Science
Helmholtz Centre Berlin for Materials and Energy

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

UN SDGs

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

SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy

Keywords

Composition
CuInGaSe
Efficiency
Grain
Solar cell
Thin film

Access to Document

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.",

keywords = "Composition, CuInGaSe, Efficiency, Grain, Solar cell, Thin film",

author = "Wenjie Li and Sidney Cohen and Konstantin Gartsman and Raquel Caballero and \{Van Huth\}, Palle and Ronit Popovitz-Biro and David Cahen",

year = "2012",

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doi = "10.1016/j.solmat.2011.10.024",

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journal = "Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells",

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AU - Li, Wenjie

AU - Cohen, Sidney

AU - Gartsman, Konstantin

AU - Caballero, Raquel

AU - Van Huth, Palle

AU - Popovitz-Biro, Ronit

AU - Cahen, David

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N2 - 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.

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.

KW - Composition

KW - CuInGaSe

KW - Efficiency

KW - Grain

KW - Solar cell

KW - Thin film

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AN - SCOPUS:84855337608

SN - 0927-0248

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JO - Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells

JF - Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells

ER -

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

Abstract

Funding

UN SDGs

Keywords

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