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Exceeding 20% efficiency with in situ group V doping in polycrystalline CdTe solar cells

Author

Listed:
  • W. K. Metzger

    (National Renewable Energy Laboratory)

  • S. Grover

    (First Solar)

  • D. Lu

    (First Solar)

  • E. Colegrove

    (National Renewable Energy Laboratory)

  • J. Moseley

    (National Renewable Energy Laboratory)

  • C. L. Perkins

    (National Renewable Energy Laboratory)

  • X. Li

    (First Solar)

  • R. Mallick

    (First Solar)

  • W. Zhang

    (First Solar)

  • R. Malik

    (First Solar)

  • J. Kephart

    (First Solar)

  • C.-S. Jiang

    (National Renewable Energy Laboratory)

  • D. Kuciauskas

    (National Renewable Energy Laboratory)

  • D. S. Albin

    (National Renewable Energy Laboratory)

  • M. M. Al-Jassim

    (National Renewable Energy Laboratory)

  • G. Xiong

    (First Solar)

  • M. Gloeckler

    (First Solar)

Abstract

CdTe-based solar technology has achieved one of the lowest levelized costs of electricity among all energy sources as well as state-of-the-art field stability. Yet, there is still ample headroom to improve. For decades, mainstream technology has combined fast CdTe deposition with a CdCl2 anneal and Cu doping. The resulting defect chemistry is strongly compensated and limits the useful hole density to ~1014 cm−3, creating a ceiling for fill factor, photovoltage and efficiency. In addition, Cu easily changes energy states and diffuses spatially, creating a risk of instabilities that must be managed with care. Here, we demonstrate a significant shift by doping polycrystalline CdSexTe1 − x and CdTe films with As while removing Cu entirely from the solar cell. The absorber majority-carrier density is increased by orders of magnitude to 1016–1017 cm−3 without compromising the lifetime, and is coupled with a high photocurrent greater than 30 mA cm−2. We demonstrate pathways for fast dopant incorporation in polycrystalline thin films, improved stability and 20.8% solar cell efficiency.

Suggested Citation

  • W. K. Metzger & S. Grover & D. Lu & E. Colegrove & J. Moseley & C. L. Perkins & X. Li & R. Mallick & W. Zhang & R. Malik & J. Kephart & C.-S. Jiang & D. Kuciauskas & D. S. Albin & M. M. Al-Jassim & G., 2019. "Exceeding 20% efficiency with in situ group V doping in polycrystalline CdTe solar cells," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 4(10), pages 837-845, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natene:v:4:y:2019:i:10:d:10.1038_s41560-019-0446-7
    DOI: 10.1038/s41560-019-0446-7
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    Cited by:

    1. Alessandro Romeo & Elisa Artegiani, 2021. "CdTe-Based Thin Film Solar Cells: Past, Present and Future," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-24, March.
    2. Jianjun Li & Jialiang Huang & Fajun Ma & Heng Sun & Jialin Cong & Karen Privat & Richard F. Webster & Soshan Cheong & Yin Yao & Robert Lee Chin & Xiaojie Yuan & Mingrui He & Kaiwen Sun & Hui Li & Yaoh, 2022. "Unveiling microscopic carrier loss mechanisms in 12% efficient Cu2ZnSnSe4 solar cells," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 7(8), pages 754-764, August.
    3. Chee, A. Kuan-Way, 2023. "On current technology for light absorber materials used in highly efficient industrial solar cells," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 173(C).

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