Abstract
In this paper, we demonstrate, for the first time, the manufacture of a CuInSe 2 thin film whose absorber layer is coated using an electrostatic spray deposition (ESD) technique; its complete transformation into a working device with measured conversion efficiency is presented. ESD is superior to pneumatic spraying because it produces nano-scaled, self-dispersive (non-agglomerating), highly wettable (electrowetting) and adhesive droplets to yield a uniform coating on a substrate. Furthermore, ESDs extremely low material consumption rate holds promises for practical use in the solar cell industry. Copper and indium salts are added to various solvents, which are electrostatically sprayed onto a molybdenum-coated soda-lime glass substrate. The effect of substrate temperature on the thin film characteristics is examined. Our cell is completed by adding CdS and ZnO layers onto the CuInSe 2 absorber layer. Light illuminated current-density voltage (J-V) characteristics demonstrate a power conversion efficiency of η = 1.75% ± 0.09 with an open-circuit voltage of V OC = 0.23 V, a short-circuit current density of J SC = 21.72 mA/cm 2, and fill factor of FF = 0.34.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | H444-H449 |
Journal | Journal of the Electrochemical Society |
Volume | 159 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2012 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
- Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
- Surfaces, Coatings and Films
- Electrochemistry
- Materials Chemistry