CdCl2 Treatment-Induced Enhanced Conductivity in CdTe Solar Cells Observed Using Conductive Atomic Force Microscopy
| Autor: | Antonio B. Mei, Angus Rockett, Chris Ferekides, Scott MacLaren, Vasilios Palekis, Mohit Tuteja, Allen Hall |
|---|---|
| Rok vydání: | 2016 |
| Předmět: |
010302 applied physics
Materials science Condensed matter physics Doping Analytical chemistry 02 engineering and technology Conductive atomic force microscopy Conductivity 021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology 01 natural sciences Cadmium telluride photovoltaics Crystallinity 0103 physical sciences General Materials Science Sublimation (phase transition) Grain boundary Physical and Theoretical Chemistry 0210 nano-technology Electrical conductor |
| Zdroj: | The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters. 7:4962-4967 |
| ISSN: | 1948-7185 |
| DOI: | 10.1021/acs.jpclett.6b02399 |
| Popis: | The rear surfaces of CdTe photovoltaic devices without back contacts, grown by close-spaced sublimation (CSS), were analyzed using conductive atomic force microscopy (C-AFM). As-deposited and CdCl2-treated CdTe samples were compared to clarify the effect of the treatment on charge flow through grains and grain boundaries. The CdCl2-treated samples exhibit a more homogeneous and enhanced current flow across the grains as compared to the as-deposited samples. The grain boundaries show variable current. Under high bias, grain boundaries dominate current flow when the main junction is reverse biased and with the conducting current in reverse breakdown. Under the opposite bias conditions, where the contact of the conductive tip to the surface is reverse biased and under breakdown conditions, the current flow is uniform with little contrast between grains and grain boundaries. The results are interpreted as resulting from the improved crystallinity of the CdTe with reduced p-type doping along the grain boundaries. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
| Externí odkaz: |
|