Hostname: page-component-7b7567c8c-7pwfn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2026-11-14T22:30:28.761Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Temperature-Dependent Electroluminescence from CdTe/CdS Solar Cells

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 2011

K. J. Price,
A. Vasko,
L. Gorrelland and
A. D. Compaan
K. J. Price
Affiliation:
Summer faculty scholar from Morehead State University, Morehead, KY 40351email address: k.price@morehead-st.edu
A. Vasko
Affiliation:
Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH 43606
L. Gorrelland
Affiliation:
Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH 43606
A. D. Compaan
Affiliation:
Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH 43606
Get access

Abstract

Electroluminescence (EL) from polycrystalline CdTe/CdS solar cells was studied over the temperature range – 30 C to 25 C. We are able to observe above-background EL at forward current densities as low as 3 mA/cm2, allowing us to explore the EL behavior at current-voltage regimes within the normal operating parameters of the device. The EL spectrum is very similar to the photoluminescence (PL) spectrum, and is independent of applied voltage. We show that the EL most likely originates from injected electron-hole recombination at the CdTe/CdS junction. The total EL intensity is found to vary as a power-law function of current, EL ∼ Ib, where I is the forward current density and b is a constant. The value of b varies from sample to sample and decreases with increasing temperature. EL intensity typically is much more sensitive to device deterioration with light soak stress than is cell efficiency.

Information

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 763: Symposium B – Compound Semiconductor Photovoltaics , 2003, B5.9
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2003

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Article purchase

Temporarily unavailable

References

1. Wu, X., Keane, J.C., Dhere, R.G., DeHart, C., Albin, D.A., Duda, A., Gessert, T.A., Asher, S., Levi, D.H., and Sheldon, P., “16.5% Efficient CdS/CdTe Polycrystalline Thin-film Solar Cell,“ Proc. of 17th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference. Munich, Germany, 22-26 Oct. 2001, pp 995–1000.Google Scholar
2. , Han, Wang, K., Yeh, C., Yang, L., Deng, X., and Roedern, B. Von, Phys. Rev. B 55, p.15619, (1997)Google Scholar
3. Potter, M.D.G.; Halliday, D.P.; Cousins, M.; Durose, K. Thin Solid Films, 361-362, p.248, (2000)Google Scholar
4. Compaan, A.D., Shvydka, D., Price, K.J, Vasko, A., and Karpov, V.G., Proceedings of the NCPV Program Review Meeting, September, 2001, Lakewood, CO.Google Scholar
5. Feldman, S.D., Seymour, F.H., Ohno, T.R., Kaydanov, V., and Collins, R.T., Proceedings of the 2003 NCPV Program Review, p. 199, (2003).Google Scholar
6. Feldman, Scott, Seymour, Fred, Ohno, Tim, Kaydanov, Victor, and Collins, Reuben, Proceedings of the Materials Research Society Spring Meeting, April 21-25, San Francisco, CA, to be published.Google Scholar
7. Grecu, D., Compaan, A. D., J. Appl. Phys., 87, p. 1722, (2000)Google Scholar
8. Wei, K., Pollack, F. H., Freeouf, J. L., Shvydka, D., Compaan, A. D., J. Appl. Phys., 85, p. 7418, (1999)Google Scholar
9. Shvydka, D., Compaan, A.D., and Karpov, V.G., ‘Nonlocal response in CdTe photovoltaics,’ J.Appl. Phys. 91, 9059 (2002).Google Scholar
10. Karpov, V.G., Compaan, A.D., and Shvydka, Diana, ‘Effects of nonuniformity in thin-film photovoltaics,’ Appl. Phys. Lett. 80, 4256 (2002).Google Scholar