U. S. Polycrystalline Thin Film Solar Cells Program

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U. S. POLYCRYSTALLINE THIN FILM SOLAR CELLS PROGRAM

HARIN S. ULLAL, KENNETH ZWEIBEL, AND RICHARD L. MITCHELL Solar Energy Research Institute, 1617 Cole Boulevard, Golden, CO 80401, U.S.A. ABSTRACT

The Polycrystalline Thin Film Solar Cells Program, part of the United States National Photovoltaic Program, performs R&D on copper indium diselenide and cadmium telluride thin films. The objective of the Program is to support research to develop cells and modules that meet the U.S. Department of Energy's long-term goals by achieving high efficiencies (15% - 20%), low-cost ($50/M2), and long-time reliability (30 years). The importance of work in this area is due to the fact that the polycrystalline thin-film CuInSe.2 and CdTe solar cells and modules have made rapid advances. They have become the leading thin films for PV in terms of efficiency and stability. The U.S. Department of Energy has increased its funding through an initiative through the Solar Energy Research Institute in CuInSe-2 and CdTe with subcontracts to start in Spring 1990. INTRODUCTION

The Polycrystalline Thin Film Solar Cells Program is part of the United States National Photovoltaic Program. Other areas of research and development included in the national program are the fundamental and supporting research, flat plate thin-films, flat plate crystalline silicon, and concentrator cells [1].

Table I: Polycrystalline Thin Films Program Participants Resmrd Orgnlutiot ARCO Solar

Objecve High efficiency CulnSe, 900 to 3900 cm' modules

Boeing Aerospace& Electronics

Evaporated CuGainSe,cells, 100cm&submodules

Intimrt of EnergyConvection

Evaporated and selenized CulnSe, CdTecels; device modeling

Intermtional SolarElectricTechnoogy

E-bearn/spusarfing Cu,ln layers and selenization; 50 cm' natmiodulen

Universityof fllnos

CulnSe,cells Spunsred/evapora•ed

University of Arkansas

Laser-procenaed CuIIn/Se films made by electroplating or sputtraing

California Insitine of Technology

Contact inventigation of CulnSeIMo intearface

Solar EnergyRcseaathInstime

Growth,charactesization and device fabrication of CuInSe,

Colorado Stale Univemiry

Onaranceization and modeling of CdTe and CuInSe,cells

AMETEK

Electrodeposition of n-i-p Cd&QdTe/ZnTe cells and 100cm' nbbmodules

Phoon Ener

Spraying of 900 to 3900 cm' CdTe modules

University of South Florida

Cloe space sublimation of CdTe cells; MOCVD of HgZsTe for hopcells

Georgia Instimte of Tedaoiogy

MOCVD of arreand Cd,.Zn.Te cells

Mat. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc. Vol. 161. ©1990 Materials Research Society

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The objective of the Polycrystalline Thin Film Solar Cells Program is to support research to develop cells and modules that meet the U.S. Department of Energy's long-term goals by achieving high efficiencies (15% - 20%), low-cost "($50/m2), and long-time reliability (30 years). This paper covers the various research aspects of the subcontracts program in the polycrystalline thin film area. Table 1 summarizes the various research activities with the corresponding objectives of each of the subcontracts. T