Title :
Characterizing Recombination in CdTe Solar Cells with Time-Resolved Photoluminescence
Author :
Metzger, W.K. ; Romero, M.J. ; Dippo, P. ; Young, M.
Author_Institution :
Nat. Renewable Energy Lab., Golden, CO
Abstract :
Time-resolved photoluminescence (TRPL) computer simulations demonstrate that under certain experimental conditions it is possible to assess recombination in CdTe solar cells in spite of the junction. This is supported by experimental findings that open-circuit voltage (Voc) is dependent on lifetime in a manner consistent with device theory. Measurements on inverted structures show that the CdCl 2 treatment significantly reduces recombination in the CdTe layer without S diffusion. However, S diffusion is required for lifetimes comparable to those observed in high-efficiency solar cells. The results indicate that substrate solar cells can be fabricated with recombination lifetimes similar to superstrate cells
Keywords :
II-VI semiconductors; cadmium compounds; carrier lifetime; electron-hole recombination; photoluminescence; solar cells; time resolved spectra; CdTe; computer simulations; diffusion; high-efficiency solar cells; open-circuit voltage; recombination lifetimes; time-resolved photoluminescence; Carrier confinement; Charge carrier processes; Computational modeling; Glass; Optical pulses; Photoluminescence; Photovoltaic cells; Radiative recombination; Solar power generation; Spontaneous emission;
Conference_Titel :
Photovoltaic Energy Conversion, Conference Record of the 2006 IEEE 4th World Conference on
Conference_Location :
Waikoloa, HI
Print_ISBN :
1-4244-0017-1
Electronic_ISBN :
1-4244-0017-1
DOI :
10.1109/WCPEC.2006.279467
