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Chemical and Electronic Characterization of Copper Indium Gallium Diselenide Thin Film Solar Cells and Correlation of these Characteristics to Solar Cell Operation

Hetzer, Michael
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1235494047

Abstract Details

2009, Doctor of Philosophy, Ohio State University, Physics.
This dissertation embodies solid state physics research to understand the basic physical mechanisms underlying the movement of charge inside solar cells, in particular, the high efficiency copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) solar cell. The fundamental physics of the operation of these complex polycrystalline alloys remains incompletely understood. CIGS based solar cells have obtained conversion efficiencies of nearly 20%. Solar cells based on this material have been examined in this work using high resolution, atomic scale techniques to better understand the fundamental operation of these solar cells as well as correlating these basic properties to the operation of the finished full solar cell devices. Auger Electron Spectroscopy (AES) measurements of the chemical composition taken with nanometer resolution in an ultra high vacuum secondary electron microscope show evidence for compositional changes at the grain boundaries of the CIGS layer. These findings support theoretical calculations that predict higher solar cell performance as a result. Additionally, measurements have been taken with cathodoluminescence spectroscopy (CLS) studying the band structure locally within the CIGS layers. Significant variation is present in the resulting spectra, even within single grains indicating improved uniformity could be a path to better solar cell operation. Attempts to correlate the chemical composition and the energy band structure using AES and CLS measurements have yielded some interesting initial results but more work remains to be done to obtain a deeper understanding of the physics involved in these solar cells. Correlations have been observed between the energy band structure and the performance parameters of the solar cell, such as efficiency. These results indicate the possibility of alloying between the different layers of the solar cell and also that this intermixing is detrimental to the performance of the solar cell. This work has revealed important fundamental characteristics of these materials regarding changes in the atomic composition and energy band structure and how these changes influence the performance of the CIGS layer.
Leonard Brillson, PhD (Advisor)
Jonathan Pelz, PhD (Committee Member)
Thomas Humanic, PhD (Committee Member)
Bruce Patton, PhD (Committee Member)
Physics
Solar Cell; CIGS; Physics; Thin Film Solar Cell

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Citations

  • Hetzer, M. (2009). Chemical and Electronic Characterization of Copper Indium Gallium Diselenide Thin Film Solar Cells and Correlation of these Characteristics to Solar Cell Operation [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1235494047

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Hetzer, Michael. Chemical and Electronic Characterization of Copper Indium Gallium Diselenide Thin Film Solar Cells and Correlation of these Characteristics to Solar Cell Operation. 2009. Ohio State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1235494047.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Hetzer, Michael. "Chemical and Electronic Characterization of Copper Indium Gallium Diselenide Thin Film Solar Cells and Correlation of these Characteristics to Solar Cell Operation." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University, 2009. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1235494047

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.