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3D Lifetime Tomography Reveals How CdCl 2 Improves Recombination Throughout CdTe Solar Cells
Author(s) -
Barnard Edward S.,
Ursprung Benedikt,
Colegrove Eric,
Moutinho Helio R.,
Borys Nicholas J.,
Hardin Brian E.,
Peters Craig H.,
Metzger Wyatt K.,
Schuck P. James
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
advanced materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 10.707
H-Index - 527
eISSN - 1521-4095
pISSN - 0935-9648
DOI - 10.1002/adma.201603801
Subject(s) - cadmium telluride photovoltaics , materials science , crystallite , recombination , optoelectronics , photovoltaic system , grain boundary , photon , free carrier , carrier lifetime , solar cell , optics , silicon , physics , microstructure , chemistry , ecology , biochemistry , biology , metallurgy , gene
Using two‐photon tomography , carrier lifetimes are mapped in polycrystalline CdTe photovoltaic devices. These 3D maps probe subsurface carrier dynamics that are inaccessible with traditional optical techniques. They reveal that CdCl 2 treatment of CdTe solar cells suppresses nonradiative recombination and enhances carrier lifetimes throughout the film with substantial improvements particularly near subsurface grain boundaries and the critical buried p–n junction.