Thin film CdS/CdTe solar cells fabricated by electrodeposition

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Abstract
CdTe cells with efficiencies up to 9.58% were fabricated by electrodeposition. The minority‐carrier lifetime in the CdTe measured by time‐resolved photoluminescence was 2.39 ns. A first method to characterize CdS microstructure by small‐angle x‐ray scattering method has been made. Scanning tunneling microscopy performed on 1000 Å thick CdS films made by chemical bath deposition revealed a thickness fluctuation of 500 Å. Annealing of the CdS films followed by a CdCl2 treatment did not reduce the roughness, but drastically changed the contour of the grains. Some of the CdCl2‐treated CdS showed white spots with diameters ranging from about 0.5 mm to 5 mm. These spots are conglomerates of dendritic patterns of either Cd metal or some Cd‐rich phase. Optical transmittance of CdS films with various thicknesses (170 Å–2400 Å) showed a good correlation between thickness and transmittance for photon energies above the bandgap. The effect of CdCl2 treatment and annealing on transmittance was either negligible or slightly deleterious. CdTe films made by electrodeposition showed a dense, faceted surface morphology and films were under compressive stress after CdCl2 treatment and annealing.

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