Investigation on CuInGaSe2 CdZnTeAbsorber Layers and GZO Transparent Conducting Layer for Thin Film Solar Cells

Abstract

A solar cell is an electrical device that converts optical energy directlyinto electrical energy by photovoltaic effect. As of now, the single or multicrystalline silicon solar cells dominate the solar cell manufacturing industry.But the cost of these solar cells is high. It has decreased significantly with theprogress of thin film technology. The promising second generation solar cellssuch as amorphous silicon and thin-film solar cells like Gallium Arsenide(GaAs), Cadmium Telluride (CdTe) and Copper Indium Gallium di-Selenide(CIGS) hold minimum market share along with crystalline silicon. Among thenon-silicon solar cells, thin film solar cells based on CdTe and CIGS lookpromising in terms of efficiency and manufacturing process.In the present work the characteristics of CIGS thin films and CadmiumZinc Telluride (CdZnTe) thin films which are used as absorber layers in solarcells have been investigated. Further, characteristics of Gallium doped ZincOxide (GZO) thin films - which are used as window layers and transparentconducting oxide in solar cells has been studied. newline