• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2011.05a
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• pp.106.1-106.1
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• 2011

The Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGS) thin film solar cells have been achieved until almost 20% efficiency by NREL. These solar cells include chemically deposited CdS as buffer layer between CIGS absorber layer and ZnO window layer. Although CIGS solar cells with CdS buffer layer show excellent performance, the short wavelength response of CIGS solar cell is limited by narrow CdS band gap of about 2.42 eV. Taking into consideration the environmental aspect, the toxic Cd element should be replaced by a different material. Among Cd-free candidate materials, the CIGS thin film solar cells with ZnS buffer layer seem to be promising with 17.2%(module by showa shell K.K.), 18.6%(small area by NREL). However, ZnS/CIGS solar cells still show lower performance than CdS/CIGS solar cells. There are several reported reasons to reduce the efficiency of ZnS/CIGS solar cells. Nakada reported ZnS thin film had many defects such as stacking faults, pin-holes, so that crytallinity of ZnS thin film is poor, compared to CdS thin film. Additionally, it was known that the hetero-interface between ZnS and CIGS layer made unfavorable band alignment. The unfavorable band alignment hinders electron transport at the heteo-interface. In this study, we focused on growing defect-free ZnS thin film and for favorable band alignment of ZnS/CIGS, bandgap of ZnS and CIGS, valece band structure of ZnS/CIGS were modified. Finally, we verified the photovoltaic properties of ZnS/CIGS solar cells.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.163-170
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• 2020

This research was to understand the current situation and trends of urban design using rapidly growing solar cells at home and abroad, and to understand the positive aspects and implications of urban design proposals using CIGS thin film solar cells, a research project to be conducted based on case analysis. The research method was conducted through a literature study and the case was investigated and analyzed after identifying the present situation and trends of urban design using solar cells from home and abroad. As a result, it was confirmed that urban design using solar cells was steadily increasing, and through visual changes such as harmony with the surrounding environment, indoor and outdoor visualization, and the use of color, urban aesthetic beauty creation was positive. Based on these implications, we will present the expected effects of CIGS thin film solar cells being utilized in urban design, and confirm the direction and significance of the urban design proposal using CIGS thin film solar cells in the future.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.28 no.12
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• pp.748-757
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• 2018

Inorganic semiconductor compounds, e.g., CIGS and CZTS, are promising materials for thin film solar cells because of their high light absorption coefficient and stability. Research on thin film solar cells using this compound has made remarkable progress in the last two decades. Vacuum-based processes, e.g., co-evaporation and sputtering, are well established to obtain high-efficiency CIGS and/or CZTS thin film solar cells with over 20 % of power conversion. However, because the vacuum-based processes need high cost equipment, they pose technological barriers to producing low-cost and large area photovoltaic cells. Recently, non-vacuum based processes, for example the solution/nanoparticle precursor process, the electrodeposition method, or the polymer-capped precursors process, have been intensively studied to reduce capital expenditure. Lately, over 17 % of energy conversion efficiency has been reported by solution precursors methods in CIGS solar cells. This article reviews the status of non-vacuum techniques that are used to fabricate CIGS and CZTS thin films solar cells.

• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
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• 2010.05a
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• pp.35.1-35.1
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• 2010

The Cu(In,Ga)Se2(CIGS) thin film solar cells have been achieved until almost 20% efficiency by NREL. These solar cells include chemically deposited CdS as buffer layer between CIGS absorber layer and ZnO window layer. Although CIGS solar cells with CdS buffer layer show excellent performance, many groups made hard efforts to overcome its disadvantages in terms of high absorption of short wavelength, Cd hazardous element. Among Cd-free candidate materials, the CIGS thin film solar cells with Zn compound buffer layer seem to be promising with 15.2%(module by showa shell K.K.), 18.6%(small area by NREL). However, few groups were successful to report high-efficiency CIGS solar cells with Zn compound buffer layer, compared to be known how to fabricate these solar cells. Each group's chemical bah deposition (CBD) condition is seriously different. It may mean that it is not fully understood to grow high quality Zn compound thin film on the CIGS using CBD. In this study, we focused to clarify growth mechanism of chemically deposited Zn compound thin film on the CIGS, especially. Additionally, we tried to characterize junction properties with unfavorable issues, that is, slow growth rate, imperfect film coverage and minimize these issues. Early works reported that film deposition rate increased with reagent concentration and film covered whole rough CIGS surface. But they did not mention well how film growth of zinc compound evolves homogeneously or heterogeneously and what kinds of defects exist within film that can cause low solar performance. We observed sufficient correlation between growth quality and concentration of NH3 as complex agent. When NH3 concentration increased, thickness of zinc compound increased with dominant heterogeneous growth for high quality film. But the large amounts of NH3 in the solution made many particles of zinc hydroxide due to hydroxide ions. The zinc hydroxides bonded weakly to the CIGS surface have been removed at rinsing after CBD.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2011.08a
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• pp.218-218
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• 2011

The CIGS Solar Cells have the highest conversion efficiency in the film-type solar cells. They consist of p-type CuInSe2 film and n-type ZnO film. The CdS films are used as buffer layer in the CIGS solar cells since remarkable difference in the lattice constant and energy band gap of two films. The CdS films are toxic and make harmful circumstances. The CdS films deposition process need wet process. In this works, we design and make the hitter and lamp reflection part in the sputtering system for the ZnS films deposition as buffer layer, not using wet process. Film thickness, SEM, and AFM are measured for the uniformity valuation of the ZnS films. We conclude the optimum deposition temperature for the films uniformity less than 1.6%. The ZnS films deposited by the sputtering system are more dense and uniform than the CdS films deposited by the Chemical Bath Deposition Method(CBD) for the CIGS Solar Cells.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2009.06a
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• pp.138-138
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• 2009

Recently, thin-film solar cells of Cu(In,Ga)$Se_2$(CIGS) have reached a high level of performance, which has resulted in a 19.9%-efficient device. These conventional devices were typically fabricated using chemical bath deposited CdS buffer layer between the CIGS absorber layer and ZnO window layer. However, the short wavelength response of CIGS solar cell is limited by narrow CdS band gap of about 2.42 eV. Taking into consideration the environmental aspect, the toxic Cd element should be replaced by a different material. It is why during last decades many efforts have been provided to achieve high efficiency Cd-free CIGS solar cells. In order to alternate CdS buffer layer, ZnS buffer layer is grown by using chemical bath deposition(CBD) technique. The thickness and chemical composition of ZnS buffer layer can be conveniently by varying the CBD processing parameters. The processing parameters were optimized to match band gap of ZnS films to the solar spectrum and exclude the creation of morphology defects. Optimized ZnS buffer layer showed higher optical transmittance than conventional thick-CdS buffer layer at the short wavelength below ~520 nm. Then, chemically deposited ZnS buffer layer was applied to CIGS solar cell as a alternative for the standard CdS/CIGS device configuration. This CIGS solar cells were characterized by current-voltage and quantum efficiency measurement.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2011.02a
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• pp.367-367
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• 2011

CIGS solar cell with copper, indium, gallium and selenium is a second generation solar cells for the lowering of the manufacturing cost. The relative ratio of the four elements is one of the most important measurement issues because the photovoltaic property of CIGS solar cell depends on the crystalline structure of the CIGS layer. However, there is no useful analysis method for the composition of the CIGS layer. Recently, AES depth profiling analysis of CIGS films has been studied with a reference material certified by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy. However, there are some problems in AES depth profiling analysis of CIGS films. In this study, the in-depth profiling analysis was investigated by secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) depth profiling analysis. We will present the compositional depth profiling of CIGS films by SIMS and its applications for the development of CIGS solar cells with high efficiency.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2012.08a
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• pp.171-171
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• 2012

We have studied the effects of plasma treatments on CdS buffer layers in CIGS thin film solar cells. The CdS layers were deposited on CIGS films by chemical bath deposition (CBD) method. The RF plasma treatments of the CdS thin films were performed with Ar, $O_2 and $N_2 gases, respectively. After plasma treatments, the solar cells with Al:ZnO/i-ZnO/CdS/CIGS structures were fabricated. The surface properties of the CdS/CIGS thin films after plasma treatments were investigated with SEM, EDX and AFM measurements. The electrical properties of manufactured solar cell were discussed with the results of current-voltage measurements. The plasma treatments have a strong influence on the open circuit voltage (VOC) and the fill factor of the solar cells. Finally, a correlation between the surface properties of CdS layer and the efficiencies of the CIGS thin film solar cells is discussed.

• Journal of the Optical Society of Korea
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.180-183
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• 2014

The surface of semiconductor solar cells, such as a-Si or CIGS (CuInGaSe) solar cells is not flat but textured in the microscopic domain. With textured surfaces, the optical reflectivity of a solar cell is different from that of flat surfaces in the wavelength region. In this paper, the effects of a textured surface on a CIGS solar cell are presented by RCWA (Rigorous Coupled Wave Analysis) method. The effect of incoherent light is also considered by RCWA with a Fourier analysis while conventional optical simulation uses the input light on the solar cell as coherent light. Using experimental results, the author showed that the RCWA method with a Fourier analysis is a proper method to simulate the optical properties of CIGS solar cells.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2014.02a
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• pp.464.1-464.1
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• 2014

Among numerous material candidates, Cu(InxGa1-x)(SySe2-y) (CIGS) thin films have emerged as promising material candidates for thin film solar cell applications due to the high energy conversion efficiency and relatively low fabrication cost. The CIGS thin film solar cells consist of several materials, including Mo back contacts, ZnO-based window layers, and CdS buffer layers. All these materials have different crystal structures and contain quite distinct chemical elements, and hence the device characterization requires careful analyses. Most of all, identification of the major trap states resulting in the carrier recombination processes is a key step toward realization of high efficiency CIGS solar cells. We have carried out electrical investigations of CIGS thin film solar cells to specify the major trap states and their roles in photovoltaic performance. In particular, we have used the temperature-dependent transport characterizations and admittance spectroscopy. In this presentation, we will introduce some exemplary studies of DC and AC electrical characteristics of the CIGS solar cells.