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Thin Films: Direct Imaging of Cl‐ and Cu‐Induced Short‐Circuit Efficiency Changes in CdTe Solar Cells (Adv. Energy Mater. 15/2014)
Author(s) -
Poplawsky Jonathan D.,
Paudel Naba R.,
Li Chen,
Parish Chad M.,
Leonard Donovan,
Yan Yanfa,
Pennycook Stephen J.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
advanced energy materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 10.08
H-Index - 220
eISSN - 1614-6840
pISSN - 1614-6832
DOI - 10.1002/aenm.201470078
Subject(s) - cadmium telluride photovoltaics , materials science , photovoltaic system , thin film , energy conversion efficiency , optoelectronics , short circuit , grain boundary , solar cell , copper , diffusion , nanotechnology , composite material , electrical engineering , metallurgy , microstructure , physics , voltage , thermodynamics , engineering
CdTe‐based solar modules are the cheapest produced thin‐film photovoltaic on the market, making solar electricity conversion competitive with fossil fuels. Chlorine diffusion through grain boundaries followed by intragranular copper diffusion from the back contact allow high efficiency/low cost CdTe solar modules to be produced. As reported by Jonathan D. Poplawsky and co‐workers in article number 1400454, a series of electron microscopy experiments identify the mechanisms responsible for an efficiency increase after these treatments.