Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://ptsldigital.ukm.my/jspui/handle/123456789/487255
Title: Development of high efficiency ultra thin CdTe solar cell with back surface field
Authors: Mahmud Abdul Matin Bhuiyan (P42558)
Supervisor: Nowshad Amin, Professor Dr.
Keywords: Development
High efficiency
Ultra thin CdTe solar cell
Surface field
Solar cells
Issue Date: 22-Jul-2011
Description: The polycrystalline Cadmium Telluride (CdTe) based solar cells have shown good prospects for low cost and large scale solar PV energy source. This work investigates the feasibility of the ultra thin CdTe absorber layer with back surface field (BSF) for higher efficiency solar cells utilizing AMPS numerical simulation. Among thin films, CdTe is the favorable choice due to its numerous material advantages for solar cell applications, such as optimum direct energy gap, higher absorption coefficient and its ability to keep good electronic properties at various low cost fabrication technologies. The entire research methodology has three main parts: numerical analysis by AMPS, fabrication by physical vapor deposition and evaluations. The main goal of this work is to enhance the performance of thin film CdTe solar cells with submicron absorbers, which could lead to significant reduction of production cost and wider commercial usage. Analysis shows that 1 μm CdTe absorber layer gives good performance and further reduction of absorber layer with BSF is proposed. The specific BSF materials selected to be investigated are ZnTe, Sb2Te3 and As2Te3. The best calculated ultra thin CdTe cell with a 100 nm of ZnTe BSF layer would have an absorber layer thickness of 0.5 μm (efficiency 20%), higher stability with a linear TC of -0.24%/°C and a competitive CdTe cell performance at a absorber thickness of 0.25 μm would be possible. The different layers of the ultra thin CdTe solar cells were fabricated by RF sputtering technique with an aim to establish a base line fabrication process. Evaluations such as X-ray-diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscope (AFM), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Current Voltage (I-V) characteristics have been performed. Further optimization of the fabrication process steps are needed to increase the cell efficiency. Preliminary experimental evidence has shown that CdTe cells with a BSF promises higher cell performance. Based on this research, good quality ultra thin CdTe solar cells are feasible with higher conversion,Ph.D
Pages: 174
Call Number: TK2960.B497 2011 3
Publisher: UKM, Bangi
Appears in Collections:Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment / Fakulti Kejuruteraan dan Alam Bina

Files in This Item:
File Description SizeFormat 
ukmvital_74360+Source01+Source010.PDF
  Restricted Access
5.18 MBAdobe PDFThumbnail
View/Open


Items in DSpace are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.