High Work Function Back Contacts for CdTe Solar Cells

CdTe 太阳能电池的高功函数背接触

• 批准号: 0701861
• 负责人: Rudiger Schlaf
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: University of South Florida
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2007
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2007-04-15 至 2011-03-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0701861&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Work; Function; Back; Contacts; CdTe

Intellectual Merit: CdTe based thin film cells have one of the most promising outlooks for wide-spread use due to their low cost and relatively high conversion efficiencies (~16%, to date). At this point, there is a consensus in the field, that further significant efficiency increases need an improvement of the back contact to the light converting CdTe layer. This contact is currently fabricated using Cu, which are affected by degradation over time due to migration of Cu into the CdTe layer of the solar cell, as well as limited conversion efficiency due to non-optimal current transport across the CdTe/Cu boundary. The proposed research will address these issues by investigating a promising class of materials, namely layered compound metals such as VSe2 or TiSe2. These materials distinguish themselves through high chemical inertness (which will reduce or eliminate interfacial reaction and migration) and high work functions, which will optimize the conversion efficiency.Broader Impact: Global warming and dependence on foreign energy sources have caused a renewed interest in alternative energy sources. Direct generation of electric power from photovoltaic cells is one of the most promising options to generate clean energy in a decentralized way. However, commercial viability of solar cells is one of the main challenges on the way to successful competition with fossil energy sources. While CdTe thin film solar cells are currently considered one of the most likely candidates for widespread deployment, increased efficiency is needed to push the CdTe technology into the realm of commercial viability, which is the focus of the proposed research. On the educational side, undergraduates and high school students will be involved in the program working together with the graduate students, giving them an opportunity to experience scientific research hands-on.

智能优点：由于其低成本和相对较高的转换效率(到目前为止，约16%)，基于CdTe的薄膜电池具有最有前途的广泛应用前景之一。在这一点上，该领域存在一个共识，即进一步显著地提高效率需要改善与光转换CdTe层的背接触。这种接触目前是用铜制造的，随着时间的推移，由于铜迁移到太阳能电池的CdTe层而受到退化的影响，以及由于通过CdTe/Cu边界的非最佳电流传输而导致的转换效率有限。拟议的研究将通过研究一类有前景的材料来解决这些问题，即层状化合物金属，如VSe2或TiSe2。这些材料通过高的化学惰性(这将减少或消除界面反应和迁移)和高功函数而脱颖而出，这将优化转换效率。广泛的影响：全球变暖和对外国能源的依赖重新引起了人们对替代能源的兴趣。光伏电池直接发电是以分散的方式生产清洁能源的最有前途的选择之一。然而，太阳能电池的商业可行性是与化石能源竞争取胜的主要挑战之一。虽然目前认为镉镉薄膜太阳能电池是最有可能广泛应用的候选电池之一，但需要提高效率才能将镉镉技术推向商业可行性领域，这是拟议研究的重点。在教育方面，本科生和高中生将与研究生一起参与该项目，让他们有机会亲身体验科学研究。