Investigation for Optimum Structure of CdS:O/CdTe Solar Cell from Numerical Analysis

Abstract:

In this paper, various factors that affect the solar cell performances are investigated with emphasis given to the window layer (CdS:O) thickness, operating temperature and light intensity as well as the effect of front contact and BSF layers. Various parameters of solar cells such as quantum efficiency, series and shunt resistance associated with the front contact and BSF materials have been investigated also. Two materials ZnO and SnO₂ were used as front contact and two materials Sb₂Te₃ and ZnTe were used as BSF layers to investigate their effects on ultra-thin cell performances. The results have shown that the BSF layers have no unfavourable effect on cell stability with temperature increase as the cell temperature coefficients with these BSF layers were 0.1% (ZnTe) to 0.3% (Sb₂Te₃). However, the results of the comparisons demonstrate that the best option is Sb₂Te₃ as BSF material, which exhibits lowest series resistance and behaves as an excellent minority carrier mirror whereas ZnTe showed unexpected series resistance problems because of the adverse heterojunction with CdTe.

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volumes 622-623)
• Pages: 1194-1198
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.622-623.1194
• Online since: December 2012
• Authors: M.A. Islam, Shrarafat Hossain, Nowshad Amin, M. Mannir Aliyu, Yusuf Sulaiman, Kamaruzzaman Sopian
• Keywords: AMPS-1D, BSF Layer, CdTe Thin Film Solar Cells, Front Contact, Series Resistance, Shunt Resistance

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