Oxides for sustainable photovoltaics with earth-abundant materials

Alexander Wagner; Mathieu Stahl; Nikolai Ehrhardt; Andreas Fahl; Johannes Ledig; Andreas Waag; Andrey Bakin

doi:10.1117/12.2044734

8 March 2014 Oxides for sustainable photovoltaics with earth-abundant materials

Alexander Wagner, Mathieu Stahl, Nikolai Ehrhardt, Andreas Fahl, Johannes Ledig, Andreas Waag, Andrey Bakin

Proceedings Volume 8987, Oxide-based Materials and Devices V; 898726 (2014) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2044734
Event: SPIE OPTO, 2014, San Francisco, California, United States

Abstract

Energy conversion technologies are aiming to extremely high power capacities per year. Nontoxicity and abundance of the materials are the key requirements to a sustainable photovoltaic technology. Oxides are among the key materials to reach these goals. We investigate the influence of thin buffer layers on the performance of an ZnO:Al/buffer/Cu₂O solar cells. Introduction of a thin ZnO or Al₂O₃ buffer layer, grown by thermal ALD, between ZnO:Al and Cu₂O resulted in 45% increase of the solar cell efficiency. VPE growth of Cu₂O employing elemental copper and pure oxygen as precursor materials is presented. The growth is performed on MgO substrates with the (001) orientation. On- and off- oriented substrates have been employed and the growth results are compared. XRD investigations show the growth of the (110) oriented Cu₂O for all temperatures, whereas at a high substrate temperature additional (001) Cu₂O growth occurs. An increase of the oxygen partial pressure leads to a more pronounced 2D growth mode, whereby pores between the islands still remain. The implementation of off-axis substrates with 3.5° and 5° does not lead to an improvement of the layer quality. The (110) orientation remains predominant, the grain size decreases and the FWHM of the (220) peak increases. From the AFM images it is concluded, that the (110) surface grows with a tilt angle to the substrate surface.

Citation Download Citation

Alexander Wagner, Mathieu Stahl, Nikolai Ehrhardt, Andreas Fahl, Johannes Ledig, Andreas Waag, and Andrey Bakin "Oxides for sustainable photovoltaics with earth-abundant materials", Proc. SPIE 8987, Oxide-based Materials and Devices V, 898726 (8 March 2014); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2044734

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