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Optical Physics of Cu(In,Ga)Se2 Solar Cells and Their Layer Components

Ibdah, Abedl Rahman
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1464639374

Abstract Details

, Doctor of Philosophy, University of Toledo, Physics.
Polycrystalline Cu(In1-xGax)Se2 (CIGS) thin film technology has emerged as a promising candidate for low cost and high performance solar modules. The efficiency of CIGS solar cells is strongly influenced by several key factors. Among these factors include Ga composition and its profile in the absorber layer, copper content in this layer, and the solar cell multilayer structure. As a result, tools for the characterization of thin film CIGS solar cells and their layer components are becoming increasingly essential in research and manufacturing. Spectroscopic ellipsometry is a non-invasive technique that can serve as an accurate probe of component layer optical properties and multilayer structures, and can be applied as a diagnostic tool for real-time, in-line, and off-line monitoring and analysis in small area solar cell fabrication as well as in large area photovoltaics manufacturing. Implementation of spectroscopic ellipsometry provides unique insights into the properties of complete solar cell multilayer structures and their layer components. These insights can improve our understanding of solar cell structures, overcome challenges associated with solar cell fabrication, and assist in process monitoring and control on a production line. In this dissertation research, Cu(In,Ga)Se2 films with different Cu contents have been prepared by the one stage co-evaporation process. These films have been studied by real time spectroscopic ellipsometry (RTSE) during deposition, and by in-situ SE at the deposition temperature as well as at room temperature to extract the dielectric functions (e1, e2) of the thin film materials. Analytical expressions for the room temperature dielectric functions were developed, and the free parameters that describe these analytical functions were in turn expressed as functions of the Cu content. As a result of this parameterization, the dielectric function spectra (e1, e2) can be predicted for any desired composition within the range of the samples investigated. This capability was applied for mapping the structural and compositional variations of CIGS thin films deposited over a 10 cm × 10 cm substrate area. In another application presented in this dissertation, a non-invasive method utilizing ex-situ spectroscopic ellipsometry analysis has been developed and applied to determine non-destructively the Ga compositional profile in CIGS absorbers. The method employs parameterized dielectric function spectra (e1, e2) of CIGS versus Ga content to probe the compositional variation with depth into the absorber. In addition, a methodology for prediction of the external quantum efficiency (QE) including optical gains and losses for a CIGS solar cell has been developed. The methodology utilizes ex-situ spectroscopic ellipsometry analysis of a complete solar cell, with no free parameters, to deduce the multilayer solar cell structure non-invasively and simulate optical light absorption in each of the layer components. In the case of high efficiency CIGS solar cells, with minimal electronic losses, QE spectra are predicted from the sum of optical absorption in the active layer components. For such solar cells with ideal photo-generated charge carrier collection, the SE-predicted QE spectra are excellent representation of the measured ones. Since the QE spectra as well as the short circuit current density (Jsc) can be calculated directly from SE analysis results, then the predicted QE from SE can be compared with the experimental QE to evaluate electronic losses based on the difference between the spectra. Moreover, the calculated Jsc can be used as a key parameter for the design and optimization of anti-reflection coating structures. Because the long term production potential of CIGS solar modules may be limited by the availability of indium, it becomes important to reduce the thickness of the CIGS absorber layer. Thickness reduction would reduce the quantity of indium required for production which would in turn reduce costs. A decrease in short-circuit current density (Jsc) is expected, however, upon thinning the CIGS absorber due to incomplete absorption. To clarify the limits of obtainable Jsc in ultra-thin CIGS solar cells with Mo back contacts, optical properties and multilayer structural data are deduced via spectroscopic ellipsometry analysis and used to predict the QE spectra and maximum obtainable Jsc values upon thinning the absorber. Moreover, SE-guided optical design of ultra-thin CIGS solar cells has been demonstrated. In the case of solar cells fabricated on Mo, thinning the absorber in a CIGS solar cell is associated with significant optical losses in the Mo containing back contact layers. This is due in part to the poor optical reflectance of Mo. Such optical losses may be reduced by employing a back contact design with improved reflectance. Thus, alternative novel solar cell structures with ultra-thin absorbers and improved back contact reflectance have been designed and investigated using SE and the optical modeling methods. In addition to optical losses, electronic losses in the ultra-thin solar cells have been evaluated. By separating the absorber layer into sub-layer regions (for example, near-junction, bulk, and near-back-contact) and varying carrier collection probability in these regions, the contribution of each region to the current can be estimated. Based on this separation, the origin of the electronic losses has been identified as near the back contact.
Robert Collins (Advisor)
Physics

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Ibdah, A. R. (n.d.). Optical Physics of Cu(In,Ga)Se2 Solar Cells and Their Layer Components [Doctoral dissertation, University of Toledo]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1464639374

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Ibdah, Abedl Rahman. Optical Physics of Cu(In,Ga)Se2 Solar Cells and Their Layer Components . University of Toledo, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1464639374.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Ibdah, Abedl Rahman. "Optical Physics of Cu(In,Ga)Se2 Solar Cells and Their Layer Components ." Doctoral dissertation, University of Toledo. Accessed APRIL 19, 2024. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1464639374

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

toledo1464639374
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