| 1. |
|
|
| 2. |
- Donzel-Gargand, Olivier, 1986-, et al.
(författare)
-
Surface defect passivation by a thin metallic barrier for Cu(InxGa1-x)Se2 co-evaporation on Cr-steel substrates
- 2016
-
Ingår i: Thin Solid Films. - : Elsevier. - 0040-6090 .- 1879-2731. ; 619, s. 220-226
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The use of Cr-steel substrates for the fabrication of Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGS) solar cells is highly desirable and is a topic of considerable research interest. However, solar cells on non-treated steel substrates often exhibit decreased performance compared to their homologues on soda lime glass substrates. This is partly attributed to out-diffusion of steel components (Fe, Cr, Mn, etc.) into the solar cell. To avoid this contamination, thin film barriers can be added on top of the steel surface, but they do not always prevent the diffusion completely. In this paper we study the potential of using Cr and Ti as thin barrier layers. We find that local surface defects on the steel, several micrometers in height, lead to cracks in the back contact as well as in the barrier layers. Advanced transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques reveal that elemental diffusion and chemical reactions occur at these openings during heat treatments in Se atmosphere. TEM-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (TEM-EDX) analysis in combination with calculation of the solid state diffusion coefficient demonstrate that a Cr-barrier sacrificially protects the Cr-steel substrate, blocking most of the Fe out-diffusion, whereas a Ti-barrier is less efficient.
|
|
| 3. |
- Donzel-Gargand, Olivier, 1986-
(författare)
-
The Multiple Faces of Interfaces : Electron microscopy analysis of CuInSe2 thin-film solar cells
- 2018
-
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The CIS solar cell family features both a high stability and world-class performances. They can be deposited on a wide variety of substrates and absorb the entire solar spectrum only using a thickness of a few micrometers. These particularities allow them to feature the most positive Energy returned on energy invested (EROI) values and the shortest Energy payback times (EPBT) of all the main photovoltaic solar cells. Using mainly electron microscopy characterization techniques, this thesis has explored the questions related to the interface control in thin-film photovoltaic solar cells based on CuInSe2 (CIS) absorber materials. Indeed, a better understanding of the interfaces is essential to further improve the solar cell conversion efficiency (currently around 23%), but also to introduce alternative substrates, to implement various alloying (Ga-CIS (CIGS), Ag-CIGS (ACIGS)…) or even to assess alternative buffer layers.The thread of this work is the understanding and the improvement of the interface control. To do so, the passivation potential of Al2O3 interlayers has been studied in one part of the thesis. While positive changes were generally measured, a subsequent analysis has revealed that a detrimental interaction could occur between the NaF precursor layer and the rear Al2O3 passivation layer. Still within the passivation research field, incorporation of various alkali-metals to the CIS absorber layer has been developed and analyzed. Large beneficial effects were ordinarily reported. However, similar KF-post deposition treatments were shown to be potentially detrimental for the silver-alloyed CIGS absorber layer. Finally, part of this work dealt with the limitations of the thin-barrier layers usually employed when using steel substrates instead of soda-lime glass ones. The defects and their origin could have been related to the steel manufacturing process, which offered solutions to erase them.Electron microscopy, especially Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), was essential to scrutinize the local changes occurring at the different interfaces within a few nanometers. The composition variation was measured with both Electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) and Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) techniques. Finally, efforts have been invested in controlling and improving the FIB sample preparation, which was required for the TEM observations in our case.
|
|
| 4. |
- Edoff, Marika, 1965-, et al.
(författare)
-
Ultrathin CIGS Solar Cells with Passivated and Highly Reflective Back Contacts – : Results from the ARCIGS-M Consortium
- 2019
-
Ingår i: Proceedings of 36th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition. ; , s. 597-600
-
Konferensbidrag (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- In this work, we report results from the EU-funded project ARCIGS-M. The project started in 2016 and aims to reduce the use of indium and gallium by enabling the use of very thin Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGS) layers while retaining high efficiency and developing innovative low-cost steel substrates as alternatives to glass. In the project, reflective layers containing TCO´s and silver have successfully been used to enhance the reflective properties of the rear contact. In addition, passivation layers based on alumina (Al2O3) deposited by atomic layer deposition (ALD) have been found to yield good passivation of the rear contact. Since the alumina layers are dielectric, perforation of these layers is necessary to provide adequate contacting. The design of the perforation patterns has been investigated by a combination of modeling and experimental verification by electron beam lithography. In parallel a nano-imprint lithography (NIL) process is further developed for scale-up and application in prototype modules. Advanced optoelectrical characterization supported by modeling is used to fill in the missing gaps in optical and electrical properties, regarding CIGS, interfaces and back contact materials.
|
|
