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Sputtered Zn(O,S) buffer layers for CIGS solar modules—from lab to pilot production
Author(s) -
Wachau André,
Schulte Jonas,
Agoston Peter,
Hübler Florian,
Steigert Alexander,
Klenk Reiner,
Hergert Frank,
Eschrich Heinz,
Probst Volker
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
progress in photovoltaics: research and applications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.286
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1099-159X
pISSN - 1062-7995
DOI - 10.1002/pip.2880
Subject(s) - copper indium gallium selenide solar cells , annealing (glass) , sputtering , materials science , buffer (optical fiber) , layer (electronics) , optoelectronics , computer science , nanotechnology , thin film , metallurgy , telecommunications
Sputtering of Zn(O,S) from ZnO/ZnS compound targets has been proven to be a promising buffer layer process for Cd‐free CIGS modules due to easy in‐line integration, low cost and high efficiency on lab scale. In this publication, we report on successful upscaling of the lab process to pilot production. A record aperture efficiency of 13.2% has been reached on a 50 × 120 cm 2 sized module. Neither a non‐doped ZnO layer nor additional annealing steps are required. Moreover, this very reproducible process yields a standard deviation comparable with that of the CdS base line. In contrast to lab experiments, strong performance gain after light soaking has been observed. The light‐soak‐induced power increase depends on the preparation of the window layer. Accelerated aging tests show high stability of module power. This is confirmed by outdoor testing for 20 months. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.