• Current Photovoltaic Research
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• 제1권1호
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• pp.52-58
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• 2013

Two different window-structured $CuInGaSe_2$(CIGS) solar cells, i.e., CIGS/thin-CdS/ZnO:B(sample A) and CIGS/very thin-CdS/Zn(S/O)/ZnO:B(sample B), were prepared, and the diffusivity of Zn, Cd, S, and B atoms, respectively, in the CIGS, ZnO or Zn(S/O) layer was estimated by a theoretical fit to experimental secondary ion mass spectrometer data. Diffusivities of Zn, Cd, S, and B atoms in CIGS were $2.0{\times}10^{-13}(1.5{\times}10^{-13})$, $4.6{\times}10^{-13}(4.4{\times}10^{-13})$, $1.6{\times}10^{-13}(1.8{\times}10^{-13})$, and $1.2{\times}10^{-12}cm^2/s$ at 423K, respectively, where the values in parentheses were obtained from sample B and the others from sample A. The diffusivity of the B atom in a Zn(S/O) of sample B was $2.1{\times}10^{-14}cm^2/sec$. Moreover, the diffusivities of Cd and S atoms diffusing back into ZnO(sample A) or Zn(S/O)(sample A) layers were extremely low at 423K, and the estimated diffusion coefficients were $2.2{\times}10^{-15}cm^2/s$ for Cd and $3.0{\times}10^{-15}cm^2/s$ for S.

• 한국태양에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국태양에너지학회 2012년도 춘계학술발표대회 논문집
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• pp.149-152
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• 2012

$Cu(In,Ga)Se_2$ (CIGS) is one of the most promising photovoltaic materials because of large conversion efficiency which has been achieved with an optimum Ga/(In+Ga) composition in $CuIn_{1-x}Ga_xSe_2$ (X~0.3). The Ga/(In+Ga) content is important to determine band gap, solar cell performances and carrier behaviors at grain boundary (GB). Effects of Ga/(In+Ga) content on physical properties of the CIGS layers have been extensively studied. In previous research, it is reported that GB is not recombination center of CIGS thin-film solar cells. However, GB recombination and electron-hole pair behavior studies are still lacking, especially influence of with different X on CIGS thin-films. We obtained the GB surface potential, local current and I-V characteristic of different X (00.7 while X~0.3 showed higher potential than 100 mV on GBs. Higher potential on GBs appears positive band bending. It can decrease recombination loss because of carrier separation. Therefore, we suggest recombination and electron-hole behaviors at GBs depending on composition of X.

• 전기화학회지
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• 제14권2호
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• pp.61-70
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• 2011

Thin film solar cells with chalcopyrite $CuInSe_2/Cu(In,Ga)Se_2$ absorber materials, commonly known as "CIS/CIGS solar cells" have recently attracted significant research interest as a potential alternative energy-harvesting system for the next generation. Among the different deposition techniques available for the CIGS absorber layer, electrodeposition is an effective and low cost alternative to vacuum based deposition methods. This article reviews progress in the area of CIGS solar cells with an emphasis on electrodeposited absorber layer. Existing challenges in fabrication of stoichiometric absorber layer are highlighted.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국신재생에너지학회 2010년도 춘계학술대회 초록집
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• pp.101.1-101.1
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• 2010

$Cu(InGa)Se_2$ (CIGS) 태양전지는 박막형 태양전지 중 가장 높은 에너지 변환 효율이 보고 되고 있다. CIGS 태양전지를 제조하는 방법은 3 단계 동시 증착법, 금속 전구체의 셀렌화 공정법, 전기 증착법 등이 있다. 이 중 금속 전구체의 셀렌화 공정법은 다른 제조 방법에 비해 대면적 생산에 유리하고, 비교적 공정 과정이 간단하다는 장점이 있다. 하지만 금속 전구체의 미세구조 및 제조 방법, 셀렌화 공정의 최적화에 대한 연구가 부족하다. 본 실험에서는 후면전극으로 사용되는 Mo 층이 증착된 소다회 유리(soda-lime glass)를 기판으로 사용하였다. Cu-In(4:6), Cu-Ga(6:4) 타겟을 DC 스퍼터링 시스템을 이용하여 금속 전구체를 증착하였다. 이 후 미국 Delawere 대학교의 IEC 연구소와 한국전자통신연구원 (ETRI)에서 금속 전구체의 셀렌화 공정을 진행하였다. 셀렌화 공정 전후의 금속 전구체의 결정 크기와 미세구조의 변화를 관찰하기 위하여 주사전자현미경 (SEM)과 X선 회절 분석기 (XRD)를 사용하였다. 센렌화 공정이 진행된 금속 전구체 위에 버퍼층으로 사용되는 CdS와 전면전극으로 사영되는 ZnO, ITO 층을 합성한 후 에너지 변환 효율을 측정하였다. 최고 효율은 9.7%로 관찰되었다.

• ETRI Journal
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• 제38권2호
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• pp.265-271
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• 2016

We analyzed the interface characteristics of Zn-based thin-film buffer layers formed by a sulfur thermal cracker on a $Cu(In,Ga)Se_2$ (CIGS) light-absorber layer. The analyzed Zn-based thin-film buffer layers are processed by a proposed method comprising two processes - Zn-sputtering and cracker-sulfurization. The processed buffer layers are then suitable to be used in the fabrication of highly efficient CIGS solar cells. Among the various Zn-based film thicknesses, an 8 nm-thick Zn-based film shows the highest power conversion efficiency for a solar cell. The band alignment of the buffer/CIGS was investigated by measuring the band-gap energies and valence band levels across the depth direction. The conduction band difference between the near surface and interface in the buffer layer enables an efficient electron transport across the junction. We found the origin of the energy band structure by observing the chemical states. The fabricated buffer/CIGS layers have a structurally and chemically distinct interface with little elemental inter-diffusion.

• 한국레이저가공학회지
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• 제17권4호
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• pp.7-13
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• 2014

In this work, the application of laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) for the composition analysis of thin $Cu(In,Ga)Se_2$ (CIGS) solar cell films ($1-2{\mu}m$ thickness) is reported. For the ablation of CIGS films, femtosecond (fs) laser (wavelength = 343nm, pulse width = 500fs) and nanosecond (ns) laser (wavelength = 266nm, pulse width = 5ns) were used under atmospheric environment. The emission spectra were detected with an intensified charge coupled device (ICCD) spectrometer and multichannel CCD spectrometer for fs-LIBS and ns-LIBS, respectively. The calibration curves for fs-LIBS and ns-LIBS intensity ratios of Ga/Cu, In/Cu, and Ga/In were generated with respect to the concentration ratios measured by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES).

• 한국재료학회지
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• 제31권11호
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• pp.619-625
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• 2021

Cu₂ZnSn(S,Se)₄ (CZTSSe) based thin-film solar cells have attracted growing attention because of their earth-abundant and non-toxic elements. However, because of their large open-circuit voltage (V_oc)-deficit, CZTSSe solar cells exhibit poor device performance compared to well-established Cu(In,Ga)(S,Se)₂ (CIGS) and CdTe based solar cells. One of the main causes of this large V_oc-deficit is poor absorber properties for example, high band tailing properties, defects, secondary phases, carrier recombination, etc. In particular, the fabrication of absorbers using physical methods results in poor surface morphology, such as pin-holes and voids. To overcome this problem and form large and homogeneous CZTSSe grains, CZTSSe based absorber layers are prepared by a sputtering technique with different RTA conditions. The temperature is varied from 510 ℃ to 540 ℃ during the rapid thermal annealing (RTA) process. Further, CZTSSe thin films are examined with X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence, Raman spectroscopy, IPCE, Energy dispersive spectroscopy and Scanning electron microscopy techniques. The present work shows that Cu-based secondary phase formation can be suppressed in the CZTSSe absorber layer at an optimum RTA condition.

• 한국재료학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국재료학회 2011년도 추계학술발표대회
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• pp.35.1-35.1
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• 2011

New photovoltaic (PV) materials and manufacturing approaches are needed for meeting the demand for lower-cost solar cells. The prototypal thin-film photovoltaic absorbers (CdTe and $Cu(In,Ga)Se_2$) can achieve solar conversion efficiencies of up to 20% and are now commercially available, but the presence of toxic (Cd,Se) and expensive elemental components (In, Te) is a real issue as the demand for photovoltaics rapidly increases. To overcome these limitations, there has been substantial interest in developing viable alternative materials, such as $Cu_2ZnSnS_4$ (CZTS) is an emerging solar absorber that is structurally similar to CIGS, but contains only earth abundant, non-toxic elements and has a near optimal direct band gap energy of 1.4~1.6 ev and a large absorption coefficient of ${\sim}10^4\;cm^{-1}$. The CZTS absorber layers are grown and investigated by various fabrication methods, such as thermal evaporation, e-beam evaporation with a post sulfurization, sputtering, non-vacuum sol-gel, pulsed laser, spray-pyrolysis method and electrodeposition technique. In the present work, we report an alternative method for large area deposition of CZTS thin films that is potentially high throughput and inexpensive when used to produce monolithically integrated solar panel modules. Specifically, we have developed an aqueous chemical approach based on chemical bath deposition (CBD) with a subsequent sulfurization heat treatment. Samples produced by our method were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, absorbance and photoluminescence. The results show that this inexpensive and relatively benign process produces thin films of CZTS exhibiting uniform composition, kesterite crystal structure, and good optical properties. A preliminary solar cell device was fabricated to demonstrate rectifying and photovoltaic behavior.

• 한국결정성장학회지
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• 제20권3호
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• pp.107-112
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• 2010

높은 광흡수 계수를$(1{\times}10^5cm^{-1})$ 가지는 CIGS는 Ga의 비율에 따라서 밴드갭을 조절할 수 있다는 장점을 지니고 있다. CIGS의 밴드갭은 Ga의 비율에 따라 $CuInSe_2$(Eg: 1.0 eV)에서 $CuGaSe_2$(Eg: 1.68 eV)까지의 범위에 존재하며, 태양전지에 서 이상적인 fill factor 모양을 가지도록 Ga의 비율을 높게 조성한다. CIGS 흡수층을 제작하는 방법에는 co-evaporator 방식이 가장 널리 사용되며 연구되고 있다. 이에 본 연구에서는 수평 형태의 hydride vapor transport (HVT)법을 고안하여 CIGS 나노 구조 및 에피성장을 시도하였다. HVT법은 $N_2$ 분위기에서 원료부의 CIGS 혼합물을 HCl과 반응시켜 염화물 기체상태로 변환 후 growth zone까지 이동하여 성장을 하는 방식이다. 성장기판은 c-$Al_2O_3$ 기판과 u-GaN을 사용하였다. 성장 후 field emission scanning electron microscopy(FE-SEM)과 energy dispersive spectrometer(EDS)를 이용하여 관찰하였다.

• Applied Microscopy
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• 제45권3호
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• pp.183-188
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• 2015

Due to the miniaturization of semiconductor devices, their crystal structure on the nanoscale must be analyzed. However, scanning electron microscope-electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) has a limitation of resolution in nanoscale and high-resolution electron microscopy (HREM) can be used to analyze restrictive local structural information. In this study, three-dimensional (3D) automated crystal orientation and phase mapping using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) (3D TEM-EBSD) was used to identify the crystal structure relationship between an epitaxially grown CdS interfacial layer and a $Cu(In_xGa_{x-1})Se_2$ (CIGS) solar cell layer. The 3D TEM-EBSD technique clearly defined the crystal orientation and phase of the epitaxially grown layers, making it useful for establishing the growth mechanism of functional nano-materials.