Advances in Thin-Film Solar Cells

Preface List of Symbols and Abbreviations Used in the Book Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conversion Introduction Photovoltaic Effect Solar Energy Materials Electronic Devices Used for Solar Energy Conversion Characteristics of a Solar Cell Next-Generation Solar Cells Summary Status Report on Solar Energy Technologies Introduction Si Solar Cell Technology PV-Manufacturing Cost Based on Si Technology PV Technology Based on III-V Compounds New Technology for PV and Nano-Divices Emerging Low-Cost Thin-Film Technologies Summary Electrochemical Deposition of Solar Energy Materials Introduction Electrodeposition of Semiconductors Strengths and Advantages of Electrodeposition Experimental Evidence Issues in Electrodeposition of Semiconductors Current Work and Future Prospects Summary Background of the CdTe Solar Cell and the New Device Concept Introduction The Conventional Model for a Glass/Conducting Glass/CdS/CdTe/Metal Solar Cell Key Observations That Led to the Formulation of a NewModel New Concept for CdS/CdTe Solar Cell Description of Experimental Results Using the Two Models Predictions for Further Development of CdS/CdTe Solar Cells and Latest Observations Summary Extension of the New Model to CIGS Thin-Film Solar Cells Introduction Summary of Accumulated Knowledge on CIGS-Based Materials Summary of Accumulated Knowledge on CIGS-Based Solar Cells Current Views of the Physics Behind CIGS Solar Cells Reported Device Performance RecentWork on Metal/p-CIGS Interfaces Deeper Understanding of Mo/CIGS/CdS/i-ZnO/ n-ZnO:Al/Metal-Grid Solar Cells Discussion on Further Improvements of CIGS Solar Cells Conclusions Summary Effective Harvesting of Photons Introduction Tandem Solar Cells Comparison of the Two Connecting Methods Conclusions Summary Multi-Layer Graded Bandgap Solar Cells Introduction Summary of Growth and Process Details of the Device Structure Experimental Results of Fully Processed Devices Discussions Summary Solar Cells Active in Complete Darkness Introduction Summary of Experimental Results Search for Experimental Evidence of the Impurity PV Effect Responsivity Measurements I-V Measurements Under Dark Conditions Discussion Conclusions Summary Effects of Defects on Photovoltaic Solar Cell Characteristics Introduction Variations of I-V Characteristics of Metal/n-CdTe Interfaces Effects on the Performance of CdS/CdTe Solar Cells Variations in GaAs/AlGaAs Solar Cells Variations in CIGS Solar Cells Summary A Future Dominated by Solar Energy Introduction Early Applications with Low Power Requirements Early Applications with Moderate Power Requirements Applications in Solar Home Systems (~50WRange) Applications in Drip Irrigation Systems (~100WRange) Applications in Powering Computers (500-1,000WRange) Applications in Large-ScaleWater Pumping (~1,000Wand Above) Solar Power Applications on Roads Solar Power Applications on Buildings (~3 kW and Above) Energy from Solar Farms and Deserts (MW Range) Recommendations for Developing Countries Recommendations for Developed Countries Summary Is Fermi-Level Pinning Affecting GaAs-Based Solar Cells? Introduction Observation of Discrete Sets of I-V Characteristics Observation of Discrete Sets of Voc Values Discussion of New Observations Thoughts on Future Directions of Thin-Film Solar Cell Research and Development Introduction Areas for Research and Development Efforts Conclusions Index