• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.107-112
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• 2010

The Cu$(In_{1-x}Ga_x)Se_2$ is the absorber material for thin film solar cell with high absorption coefficient of $1{\times}10^5cm^{-1}$. In the case of CIGS, the movable energy band gap from $CuInSe_2$ (1.00 eV) to $CuGaSe_2$ (1.68 eV) can be acquired while controlling Ga contain ratio. Generally, the co-evaporator method have used for development and fabrication of the CIGS absorption layer. However, this method should need many steps and lengthy deposition time with high temperature. For these reasons, in this paper, a new growth method of CIGS layer was attempted to hydride vapor transport (HVT) method. The CIGS mixed-source material reacted for HCl gas in the source zone was deposited on the substrate after transporting to growth zone. c-plane $Al_2O_3$ and undoped GaN were used as substrates for growth. The characteristics of grown samples were measured from SEM and EDS.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
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• v.14 no.7
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• pp.1647-1652
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• 2010

A CdS film has been used as a window layer in CdTe and Cu(In,Ga)$Se_2$ thin films solar cell. Partial substitution of Zn for Cd increases the photocurrent and the open-circuit voltage by providing a match in the electron affinities of the two materials and the higher band gap. In this paper, CdZnS/CdTe and CdS/CdTe heterojunctions were fabricated and the electrical characteristics were investigated. Current-voltage-temperature measurements showed that the current transport for CdS/CdTe heterojunction was controlled by both tunneling and interface recombination. However, CdZnS/CdTe heterojunction displayed different current transport mechanism with the operating temperature. For above room temperature, the current transport of device was generation/recombination in the depletion region and was the leakage current and/or tunneling in the range below room temperature.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2010.08a
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• pp.298-299
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• 2010

Cu(In, Ga)Se2 (CIGS) 박막 태양전지는 Soda lime glass/Mo/CIGS/CdS/ZnO/ITO/Al 의 구조를 가지고 있다. CIGS 화합물은 direct bandgap 구조를 하고 있으며, 광흡수율이 다른 어떤 물질들 보다 뛰어나 박막으로도 충분히 태양광을 흡수할 수 있다. 또한 Ga의 도핑 농도에 따른 밴드갭 조절도 가능하다. 이러한 성질들로 인해 현재 박막태양전지로서 20.1%의 최고효율을 가지고 있다.[1] CIGS 박막 태양전지에서 p-CIGS layer와 스퍼터링으로 증착되는 n-ZnO layer사이의 buffer 층으로 chemical bath deposition (CBD)-CdS 박막을 주로 사용한다. CBD-CdS 박막은 n-ZnO 스퍼터로 증착 시킬 때, CIGS 층의 손상을 최소화하고, 이 두 층 사이에서의 격자상수와 밴드갭의 차이를 줄여주어 CIGS 박막태양전지의 효율을 증가 시키는 역할을 한다. 하지만, Cd (카드뮴)의 심각한 독성과 낮은 밴드갭(2.4eV)으로 인해 CIGS 층에서의 광흡수율을 줄여, CdS를 대체할 새로운 buffer 층의 필요성이 대두되었다.[2] 그 대안으로 ZnS, Zn(O, S, OH), (Zn, Mg)O, In2S3 같은 물질이 연구되고 있다. 현재 CBD-ZnS를 buffer 층으로 사용한 CIGS 박막태양전지의 효율은 최고 18.6%로 CBD-CdS의 최고효율보다는 약 1.5% 낮지만, ZnS가 높은 밴드갭(3.7~3.8eV)과 Cd-free 물질이라는 점에서 CdS를 대체할 물질로 각광받고 있다. 본 연구에서는 기존의 CdS 박막을 제조하는 방법과 같은 방법인 CBD를 이용하여 ZnS 박막을 제조하였다. ZnS 박막을 제조하기 위해서는 Zinc sulfate, Thiourea, 암모니아가 사용된다. 암모니아의 mol 농도에 따른 CBD-ZnS/CIGS 박막태양전지의 효율 변화를 관찰하기 위해 암모니아의 mol 농도는 1 mol, 2 mol, 3 mol, 4 mol, 5 mol, 6 mol, 그 이상의 과량을 사용하여 실험하였다. 실험 결과, 암모니아농도 5 mol에서 효율 13.82%를 확인할 수 있었다. 최고효율을 보인 조건인 암모니아 농도가 5 mol 일 때, Voc는 0.602V, Jsc는 33.109mA/cm2, FF는 69.4%를 나타내었다.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2009.06a
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• pp.448-448
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• 2009

기존에 박막공정을 이용한 CIGS 태양전지는 단가가 비싸고 공정이 복잡한 단점이 있다. 따라서 후막형 CIGS 태양전지 위한 CIGS 나노 입자의 필요성이 대두 되었다. CIGS 나노 입자를 합성하기 위한 방법은 용매열법, 콜로이달법 등이 있다. 특히 이들 방법 중에서 열용매 방식은 입도 제어가 용이하고 저압, 저온에서 간단한 공정으로 입자를 합성할 수 있다는 잠정으로 인해 많이 사용되어지고 있다. 본 연구에서는 열용매법을 이용하여, 용매양, 반응온도, 반응시간 등을 통하여 후막형 CIGS에 적합한 나노 입자를 합성하였다. XRD를 통해 상을 분석하고, SEM, 입도, B.E.T.를 통해 파우더의 평가하였다.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2012.02a
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• pp.304-304
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• 2012

CIGS(CuInGaSe2) 태양전지의 후면전극(Back contact)으로 널리 사용되는 Mo 박막은 낮은 면저항, 높은 반사율, 광흡수층 Na-path 제공 등의 조건이 요구된다. 일반적으로 Mo 박막 제작은 DC 마그네트론 스퍼터링 방법이 가장 널리 사용되며, 제작조건에 따라 태양전지 효율에 강한 영향을 미치는 것으로 보고되고 있다. 본 연구에서는 DC 마그네트론 스퍼터링 시 기판에 이온빔(Ion-beam)을 동시 조사하는 이온 빔 스퍼터링 증착(Ion-beam sputter deposition)법으로 Mo 박막을 제작하였다. 제작된 박막의 전기적 및 광학적 특성은 4-point probe, UV-Vis-NIR spectrometer로 각각 조사하였으며 Na-path 제어를 위한 구조적 특성은 XRD, FE-SEM으로 분석하였다. 분석결과에 따르면 기존 DC 마그네트론 스퍼터링 방법보다 상대적으로 더 치밀한 구조와 높은 반사율을 가지는 박막이 제작됨을 알 수 있었다. Mo 박막의 최적조건은 DC power 300 W, Ion-gun power 50 W, Ar flow rate 20 sccm 였다.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
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• v.17 no.12
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• pp.2914-2920
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• 2013

In this paper, we prepared the samples with the heat-treated substrate by means of co-evaporation method. The samples prepared with heat-treated substrate of $500^{\circ}C$showed the vacancy on the surface, and it could be prevented by Se ambient condition. The samples prepared with variable heat-treated substrates such as $430^{\circ}C$, $460^{\circ}C$, $480^{\circ}C$ and $500^{\circ}C$ showed the increase of grain resulted to the increase of the density. Based on the XRD analysis, the heat treatment could remove the Cu2Se phase of the samples, but it didn't affect the absorption index of the samples. We, therefore, conclude the absorption index is not affected by heat treatment and is controlled by the thickness of the sample.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.102-107
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• 2003

This study puts focus on the optimization of growth temperature of CIGS absorber layer which affects severely the performance of solar cells. The CIGS absorber layers were prepared by three-stage co-evaporation of metal elements in the order of In-Ga-Se. The effect of the growth temperature of 1st stage was found not to be so important, and 350$^{\circ}C$ to be the lowest optimum temperature. In the case of growth temperature at 2nd/3rd stage, the optimum temperature was revealed to be 550$^{\circ}C$. The XRD results of CIGS films showed a strong (112) preferred orientation and the Raman spectra of CIGS films showed only the Al mode peak at 173cm$\^$-1/. Scanning electron microscopy results revealed very small grains at 2nd/3rd stage growth temperature of 480$^{\circ}C$. At higher temperatures, the grain size increased together with a reduction in the number of the voids. The optimization of experimental parameters above mentioned, through the repeated fabrication and characterization of unit layers and devices, led to the highest conversion efficiency of 15.4% from CIGS-based thin film solar cell with a structure of Al/ZnO/CdS/CIGS/Mo/glass.

• Current Photovoltaic Research
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.85-90
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• 2015

Two-step processes for preparing $Cu(In,Ga)Se_2$ absorber layers consist of precursor layer formation and subsequent annealing in a Se-containing atmosphere. Among the various deposition methods for precursor layer, the nonvacuum (wet) processes have been spotlighted as alternatives to vacuum-based methods due to their potential to realize low-cost, scalable PV devices. However, due to its porous nature, the precursor layer deposited on Mo substrate by nonvacuum methods often suffers from thick $MoSe_2$ formation during selenization under a high Se vapor pressure. On the contrary, selenization under a low Se pressure to avoid $MoSe_2$ formation typically leads to low crystal quality of absorber films. Although TiN has been reported as a diffusion barrier against Se, the additional sputtering to deposit TiN layer may induce the complexity of fabrication process and nullify the advantages of nonvacuum deposition of absorber film. In this work, Mo oxide layers via thermal oxidation of Mo substrate have been explored as an alternative diffusion barrier. The morphology and phase evolution was examined as a function of oxidation temperature. The resulting Mo/Mo oxides double layers were employed as a back contact electrode for $CuInSe_2$ solar cells and were found to effectively suppress the formation of $MoSe_2$ layer.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.259-273
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• 2012

Chalcogenide-based semiconductors, such as $CuInSe_2$, $CuGaSe_2$, Cu(In,Ga)$Se_2$ (CIGS), and CdTe have attracted considerable interest as efficient materials in thin film solar cells (TFSCs). Currently, CIGS and CdTe TFSCs have demonstrated the highest power conversion efficiency (PCE) of over 11% in module production. However, commercialized CIGS and CdTe TFSCs have some limitations due to the scarcity of In, Ga, and Te and the environmental issues associated with Cd and Se. Recently, kesterite CZTS, which is one of the In- and Ga- free absorber materials, has been attracted considerable attention as a new candidate for use as an absorber material in thin film solar cells. The CZTS-based absorber material has outstanding characteristics such as band gap energy of 1.0 eV to 1.5 eV, high absorption coefficient on the order of $10^4cm^{-1}$, and high theoretical conversion efficiency of 32.2% in thin film solar cells. Despite these promising characteristics, research into CZTS-based thin film solar cells is still incomprehensive and related reports are quite few compared to those for CIGS thin film solar cells, which show high efficiency of over 20%. The recent development of kesterite-based CZTS thin film solar cells is summarized in this work. The new challenges for enhanced performance in CZTS thin films are examined and prospective issues are addressed as well.

• Current Photovoltaic Research
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.56-61
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• 2018

In this study, CIGS absorber layers were deposited on low-alkali glass and sodalime glass substrates and potasium floride (KF) of various thicknesses was supplied at an elevated temperature after the CIGS growth. The effect of KF post-deposition treatment on the two types of substrates was extremely different. On the low-alkali substrate, the open-circuit voltage (Voc) was improved but the fill-factor (FF) degradation was severe, whereas the sodalime substrate showed Voc deterioration and FF improvement. In the case of supplying 20 nm of KF on both substrates, the efficiency gain of 0.3~1.1%p was obtained. With increasing the KF thickness, a small protrusion-like microstructure developed on the surface of the absorber layer, and the microstructures that were not removed in the subsequent process were found to be the main cause of the FF loss.