Influence of growth and microstructure of electrodeposited cadmium telluride films on the properties of n-CdS/p-CdTe thin-film solar cells

Thin-film n-CdS/p-CdTe solar cells have been fabricated from electrodeposited CdS and CdTe layers. Cells made with crystalline CdTe films were 9.0%-11.5% efficiencies whereas those with CdTe of structural imperfection gave up to 6.8% efficiency. Cell efficiencies varied with growth conditions of CdTe depositions. Scanning electron micrographs and x-ray diffraction patterns showed that the CdTe deposits of relatively good cells had less grain boundaries and better crystallinity than less efficient cells. Capacitance measurements showed that the cells made with CdTe of structural imperfection had large number of interface states relative to those with crystalline CdTe films.