Open AccessPost-growth process for flexible CdS/CdTe thin film solar cells with high specific power
Author(s) -
Eunwoo Cho,
Yoonmook Kang,
Dong Hwan Kim,
Jihyun Kim
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.24.00a791
Subject(s) - cadmium telluride photovoltaics , materials science , thin film , optoelectronics , energy conversion efficiency , solar cell , photovoltaic system , layer (electronics) , thin film solar cell , optics , nanotechnology , electrical engineering , physics , engineering
We demonstrated a flexible CdS/CdTe thin film solar cell with high specific power of approximately 254 W/kg. A flexible and ultra-light weight CdS/CdTe cell treated with pre-NP etch process exhibited high conversion efficiency of 13.56% in superstrate configuration. Morphological, structural and optical changes of CdS/CdTe thin films were characterized when pre-NP etch step was incorporated to the conventional post-deposition process. Improvement of photovoltaic parameters can be attributed to the removal of the oxide and the formation of Te-rich layer, which benefit the activation process. Pre-NP etched cell maintained their flexibility and performance under the repeated tensile strain of 0.13%. Our method can pave a way for manufacturing flexible CdS/CdTe thin film solar cells with high specific power for mobile and aerospace applications.