@article{057f86cde73d4fe09e902de6dfdb31ee,
title = "Influences of buffer material and fabrication atmosphere on the electrical properties of CdTe solar cells",
abstract = "The electrical properties such as interface energy barriers, defect energy levels, and densities dictate the performance of thin film solar cells. Here, we show that these properties can be quantified in cadmium telluride (CdTe) thin-film solar cells using admittance spectroscopy-based techniques. Our results reveal that the electrical properties in CdTe thin-film solar cells depend on both buffer material and the fabrication atmosphere. We find that only a negligible front contact barrier exists at the CdS/CdTe front junction regardless of the fabrication atmospheres, while an obvious front barriers are observed at the ZnMgO (ZMO)/CdTe junctions. Both CdS/CdTe and ZMO/CdTe solar cells exhibit back contact barrier. The energy level of defects is shallower in CdS/CdTe cells than in ZMO/CdTe cells. The fabrication atmosphere influences the electrical properties, i.e., an oxygen-free atmosphere reduces the front and back barrier heights and lowers the energy level of defects. The results provide critical insights for understanding and optimizing the performance of CdTe thin-film solar cells.",
author = "Awni, \{Rasha A.\} and Li, \{Deng Bing\} and Zhaoning Song and Bista, \{Sandip S.\} and Razooqi, \{Mohammed A.\} and Grice, \{Corey R.\} and Lei Chen and Liyanage, \{Geethika K.\} and Chongwen Li and Phillips, \{Adam B.\} and Heben, \{Michael J.\} and Ellingson, \{Randy J.\} and Li, \{Jian V.\} and Yanfa Yan",
note = "Funding Information: This material is based on research sponsored by Air Force Research Laboratory under agreement number FA9453-18-2-0037. The US Government is authorized to reproduce and distribute reprints for Governmental purposes notwithstanding any copyright notation thereon. This work is also supported by the National Science Foundation under contract no. 1711534 and the US Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) under Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) Agreement Number DE-EE0007541. R.A. Awni was financially supported by the Higher Committee for Education Development (HCED) in the scholarship program started in 2009 with funding from the Iraqi Prime Minister's Office. J. V. Li is supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan, under grant number MOST 107-2218-E-006-022-MY3. We thank Dr David Strickler from Pilkington North America Inc. for supplying us FTO-coated substrates. The views and conclusions contained herein are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as necessarily representing the official policies or endorsements, either expressed or implied, of Air Force Research Laboratory or the US Government. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2019 John Wiley \& Sons, Ltd.",
year = "2019",
month = dec,
day = "1",
doi = "10.1002/pip.3192",
language = "English",
volume = "27",
pages = "1115--1123",
journal = "Progress in Photovoltaics: Research and Applications",
issn = "1062-7995",
publisher = "John Wiley and Sons Ltd",
number = "12",
}