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Optimal fabrication processes for high-efficiency chalcopyrite thin-film solar-cells

Research Project

Project/Area Number 14350161
Research Category

Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)

Allocation TypeSingle-year Grants
Section一般
Research Field Electronic materials/Electric materials
Research InstitutionFaculty of Engineering, Shinshu University

Principal Investigator

ITO Kentaro  Shinshu University, Electrical and Electronic Engineering Department, Professor, 工学部, 教授 (20020977)

Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) HASHIMOTO Yoshio  Shinshu University, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Associate Professor, 工学部, 助教授 (30262687)
Project Period (FY) 2002 – 2004
Project Status Completed (Fiscal Year 2004)
Budget Amount *help
¥15,300,000 (Direct Cost: ¥15,300,000)
Fiscal Year 2004: ¥1,100,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,100,000)
Fiscal Year 2003: ¥2,100,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,100,000)
Fiscal Year 2002: ¥12,100,000 (Direct Cost: ¥12,100,000)
Keywordsthin film / solar cell / chalcopyrite / conversion efficiency / precursor / sulfurization / film adhesion / short circuit curent / バッファー層 / CBD (Chemical Bath Deposition) / 化合物半導体 / CuInS_2 / Cu(In, Ga)S_2 / 表面処理 / 光吸収体 / 溶液成長法 / 無害化
Research Abstract

The purpose of the present research work is to improve the performance of a chalcopyrite thin-film solar cell and the adhesion of the film to a Mo-coated soda lime glass substrate. The results of our investigation are summarized as follows.
In the first step of sulfurization, we prepared a CuGaS_2 thin film on the substrate, where the Cu to Ga ratio of a vacuum-evaporated metallic precursor was equal to 1.0. In the second step, an optical absorber layer of CulnS_2 was prepared on it by sulfurization of a stacked precursor layer consisting of Cu/In. The Cu to In ratio was varied from 1.3 to 2.3. When the ratio is larger than 1.7, the cell exhibited a large short-circuit current density. This is considered to be due to the presence of Cu_xS quantum dots formed in the absorber layer. Solar cells with efficiency up to 11% was obtained using a Cu to In ratio between 1.7 and 2.1.
Using a precursor consisting of vacuum-evaporated GaS, In and Cu, we prepared a Cu(In,Ga)S_2 thin film. A high efficiency solar cell was obtained with the GaS thickness of 40nm and the Cu/In ratio of 1.2. When the GaS is made thicker, inhomogeneous distribution of In prevails, eventually leading to an inefficient solar cell. The performance of the best cell was as follows : open circuit voltage is 673mV, short circuit current density 22.7mA/cm2, fill factor 0.61 and efficiency 10.8%.
Adhesion of the chalcopyrite film to the substrate was improved by incorporation of Al into the absorber layer. Even if the Cu/(In+Al) ratio of a sputtered metallic precursor is increased to 2.7, peeling of the film was not observed. A CuAlS_2 thin layer was obtained by sulfurization in a closed quartz ampoule as a first chalcopyrite, The layer exhibited p-type conductivity, resistivity higher than 60 Ωcm and energy bandgap of 3.5eV.

Report

(4 results)
  • 2004 Annual Research Report   Final Research Report Summary
  • 2003 Annual Research Report
  • 2002 Annual Research Report
  • Research Products

    (14 results)

All 2005 2004 2003 Other

All Journal Article (9 results) Publications (5 results)

  • [Journal Article] Cu(In,Al)S_2 Thin Film Solar Cell2005

    • Author(s)
      T.Inazu, R.K.Bhandari, Y.Kadowaki, Y.Hashimoto, K Ito
    • Journal Title

      Jpn.J.Appl.Phys. 44.3

      Pages: 1204-1207

    • NAID

      10015594423

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
    • Related Report
      2004 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Journal Article] Cu(In,Al)S_2 Thin Film Solar Cell2005

    • Author(s)
      T.Inazu, R.K.Bhandari, Y.Kadowaki, Y.Hashimoto, K.Ito
    • Journal Title

      Jpn.J.Appl.Phys. Vol.44, No.3

      Pages: 1204-1207

    • NAID

      10015594423

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
    • Related Report
      2004 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Journal Article] Cu(In,Al)S_2 Thin Film Solar Cell2005

    • Author(s)
      T.Inazu, R.K.Bhandari, Y.Kadowaki, Y.Hashimoto, K.Ito
    • Journal Title

      Jpn.J.Appl.Phys. 44・3

      Pages: 1204-1207

    • NAID

      10015594423

    • Related Report
      2004 Annual Research Report
  • [Journal Article] CuAlS_2 Thin-Films Prepared by Sulfurization of Metallic Precursors and their Properties2004

    • Author(s)
      R.K.Bhandari, Y.Hashimoto, K.Ito
    • Journal Title

      Jpn.J.Appl.Phys. 43.10

      Pages: 6890-6893

    • NAID

      10013744932

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
    • Related Report
      2004 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Journal Article] CuAlS_2 Thin-Films Prepared by Sulfurization of Metallic Precursors and their Properties2004

    • Author(s)
      R.K.Bhandari, Y.Hashimoto, K.Ito
    • Journal Title

      Jpn.J.Appl.Phys. Vol.43, No.10

      Pages: 6890-6893

    • NAID

      10013744932

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
    • Related Report
      2004 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Journal Article] Cross-sectional analysis of CuInS_2 thin film prepared by electroplated precursor2004

    • Author(s)
      Y.Onuma, Y.Hashimoto, K.Ito, et al.
    • Journal Title

      Jpn.J.Appl.Phys. 43・1

    • NAID

      10011950445

    • Related Report
      2004 Annual Research Report
  • [Journal Article] Efficient thin film solar cell consisting of TCO/CdS/CuInS_2/CuGaS_2 structure2004

    • Author(s)
      H.Goto, Y.Hashimoto, K.Ito
    • Journal Title

      Thin Solid Films 451-452

      Pages: 552-555

    • Related Report
      2004 Annual Research Report
  • [Journal Article] CuAIS_2 Thin-Films Prepared by Sulfurization of Metallic Precursors and their Properties2004

    • Author(s)
      R.K.Bhandari, Y.Hashimoto, K.Ito
    • Journal Title

      Jpn.J.Appl.Phys. 43・10

      Pages: 6890-6893

    • Related Report
      2004 Annual Research Report
  • [Journal Article] (Zn,In)Sx alloy buffer for CuInS_2 solar cells2003

    • Author(s)
      Y.Hashimoto, Y.Kobayashi, K.Ito
    • Journal Title

      CD Proc.3^<rd> World conf.Photovoltaic Energy Conversion

      Pages: 1-4

    • Related Report
      2004 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] H.Goto, Y.Hashimoto, K.Ito: "Efficient thin film solar cell consisting of TCO/CdS/CuInS_2/CuGaS_2 structure"Thin Solid Films. 451-452. 552-555 (2004)

    • Related Report
      2003 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] Y.Hashimoto, Y.Kobayashi, K.Ito: "(Zn, In) Sx ALLOY BUFFER FOR CulnS_2 SOLAR CELLS"Proc.3rd World Conf.Photovoltaic Energy Conversion, 2003. 2P-D3-65 (2004)

    • Related Report
      2003 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] Y.Onuma, et al.: "Cross-sectional analysis of CuInS_2 thin film prepared by electroplated precursor"Jpn.J.Appl.Phys.. 43・1. L108-L110 (2004)

    • Related Report
      2003 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] Y.Hashimoto: "(Zn, In)S_x Alloy Buffer for CuInS_2 Solar Cells"Proc. of 3^<rd> World Conf. on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion held in Osaka, May 12-16, 2003. (To be published).

    • Related Report
      2002 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] H.Goto: "Efficient Thin Film Solar Cell Consisting of a TCO/CdS/CuInS_2/CuGaS_2 Structure"Proc. of Symposium on Thin Film and Nano-Structured Materials for Photovoltaics held in Strasboug, June 10-13. (To be published).

    • Related Report
      2002 Annual Research Report

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Published: 2002-04-01   Modified: 2016-04-21  

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