• Solar Energy
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.43-54
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• 2000

We prepared and characterized $Cu(In_{1-x}Ga_x)Se_2$(CIGS) films using a elemental co-evaporation method for absorbing layer of high efficiency thin film solar cells. The CIGS films deposited on a soda-lime glass exhibited low resistivity because of higher carrier concentration. Na was accumulated at the CIGS surface and the 0 and Se were also accumulated at the surface, suggesting that oxidation is a driving force of Na accumulation. The structure of CIGS film was modified or a secondary phase was formed in the Cu-poor CIGS bulk films probably due to the incorporation of Na into Cu vacancy sites. As the Ga/(In+Ga) ratio increased, the diffraction peaks of $Cu(In_{1-x}Ga_x)Se_2$ films were shifted to larger angle and splitted, and the grain size of $Cu_{0.91}(In_{1-x}Ga_x)Se_2$ films became smaller. All $Cu_{0.91}(In_{1-x}Ga_x)Se_2$ films showed the p-type conductivity regardless of the Ga/(In+Ga) ratio. Ag/n-ZnO/i-ZnO/CdS/$Cu_{0.91}(In_{0.7}Ga_{0.3})Se_2$/Mo solar cells were fabricated. The currently best efficiency in this study was 14.48% for $0.18cm^2$ area ($V_{oc}=581.5mV,\;J_{sc}=34.88mA$, F.F=0.714).

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2013.02a
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• pp.458-458
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• 2013

We investigated a study on the thermal degradation of boron doped zinc-oxide (BZO) layer which used as a transparent conducting layer on the Cu (In1-xGax) Se2 (CIGS) based thin film solar cells. Devices were annealed under the temperature of $100^{\circ}C$ or 100 hours and then Hall measurement was carried out to characterize the parameters of mobility (${\mu}Hall$), resistivity (${\rho}$), conductivity (${\sigma}$) and sheet resistance (Rsh). The initial values of ${\mu}Hall$, ${\rho}$, ${\sigma}$ and Rsh were $29.3cm^2$/$V{\cdot}s$, $2.1{\times}10^{-3}{\Omega}{\cdot}cm$, $476.4{\Omega}^{-1}{\cdot}cm^{-1}$ and $19.1{\Omega}$/${\Box}$ respectively. After the annealing process, the values were $4.5cm^2$/$V{\cdot}s$, $12.8{\times}10^{-3}{\Omega}{\cdot}cm$, $77.9{\Omega}^{-1}{\cdot}cm^{-1}$ and $116.6{\Omega}$/${\Box}$ respectively. We observed that ${\mu}Hall$ and ${\sigma}$ were decreased, and ${\rho}$ and Rsh were increased. In this study, BZO layer plays an important role of conducting path for electrons generated by incident light onthe CIGS absorption layer. Therefore, the degradation of BZO layer characterized by the parameters of ${\mu}Hall$, ${\rho}$, ${\sigma}$ and Rsh, affect to the cell efficiency.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2011.02a
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• pp.404-405
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• 2011

Cu(InGa)$Se_2$ (CIGS) 박막 태양전지의 저가 및 대면적화를 위한 양산화 공정인 two-step process (sputter/selenization) 공정에서는 sputtering으로 형성한 metal precursor stack을 $H_2$ Se gas를 이용하여 selenization하는 공정을 주로 이용한다. 하지만 이러한 selenization 공정은 유독한 $H_2$ Se gas를 이용해야 한다는 점과 긴 시간 동안 열처리를 해야 하는 단점을 가지고 있다. 이에 metal precursor stack 위에 Se 막을 우선 증착하고, Rapid Thermal Process (RTP)를 이용하여 selenization하는 방법이 현재 많은 관심을 끌고 있다. 본 논문에서는 sputtering 이후 RTP를 이용한 CIGS 흡수층 제작에 대한 선행연구의 일환으로 co-evaporator 장비를 이용하여 다양한 구조의 precursor를 제작하고 RTP 조건에 따른 selenization 효과를 연구하였다. Co-evaporator를 이용하여 CIGS, CIG/Se, CuGa/In/Se, In/CuGa/Se 4가지 구조의 precursor stack을 Mo coated soda lime glass 위에 제작하였다. 이때 amorphous 상태의 precursor stack을 만들기 위하여 기판에 열은 가하여 주지 않았으며, 각각의 stack 구조에서 가지고 있는 Cu, In, Ga, Se의 총량을 동일하게 유지하기 위하여 각 stack의 증착 시간을 동일하게 유지하였다. Selenization을 위한 RTP 조건은 550, $600^{\circ}C$ 각각에 대하여 1, 5, 10분으로 split을 진행하였다. Precursor stack의 증착 후 관찰한 XRD 결과는 비정질 상태를 잘 나타내었으며, SEM 결과 CIGS precursor stack을 제외한 나머지 구조의 stack에서는 In 박막의 surface roughness로 인하여 박막의 평탄화가 좋지 않음을 확인하였다. CIGS precursor stack의 경우, RTP 온도와 시간 split와 상관없이 결정화가 잘 이루어졌으나 grain의 성장이 부족하였다. 이에 비하여 CIG/Se, CuGa/In/Se, In/CuGa/Se 구조의 precursor stack의 경우, $550^{\circ}C$ 열처리에서는 InSe의 결정상이 관찰 되었으며 $600^{\circ}C$, 5분 이상 열처리에서 CIGS 결정상이 관찰되었다. 이러한 결과는 Se이 metal 원소들과 함께 있는 CIGS 구조에 비하여 metal precursor stack 위에 Se을 증착한 stack 구조들의 경우는 CIGS 결정을 형성하기 위해 Se이 metal 층들로 확산되어 반응을 하여야 하므로 상대적으로 많은 열에너지가 필요한 것으로 이해할 수 있으며, RTP를 이용한 selenization 공정으로 CIGS 박막 태양전지의 흡수층 형성이 가능함을 확인하였다.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.30 no.10
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• pp.625-630
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• 2017

ZnS was chemically deposited as a buffer layer alternative to CdS, for use as a Cd-free buffer layer in $Cu(In_{1-x}Ga_x)Se_2$ (CIGS) solar cells. The deposition of a thin film of ZnS was carried out by chemical bath deposition, following which the structural and optical properties of the ZnS layer were studied. For the experiments, zinc sulfate hepta-hydrate ($ZnSO_4{\cdot}7H_2O$), thiourea ($SC(NH_2)_2$), and ammonia ($NH_4OH$) were used as the reacting agents. The mole concentrations of $ZnSO_4$ and $SC(NH_2)_2$ were fixed at 0.03 M and 0.8 M, respectively, while that of ammonia, which acts as a complexing agent, was varied from 0.3 M to 3.5 M. By varying the mole concentration of ammonia, optimal values for parameters like optical transmission, deposition rate, and surface morphology were determined. For the fixed mole concentrations of $0.03M\;ZnSO_4{\cdot}7H_2O$ and $0.8M\;SC(NH_2)_2$, it was established that 3.0 M of ammonia could provide optimal values of the deposition rate (5.5 nm/min), average optical transmittance (81%), and energy band gap (3.81 eV), rendering the chemically deposited ZnS suitable for use as a Cd-free buffer layer in CIGS solar cells.

• Current Photovoltaic Research
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.32-38
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• 2015

CIGS solar cell consisted of various films. In this research, we investigated electrode materials in $Cu(In,Ga)Se_2$ (CIGS) cells, including Al-doped ZnO (ZnO:Al), intrinsic ZnO (i-ZnO), and Al films. The sputtered ZnO:Al film with a sputtering power at 200W showed the lowest series resistance and highest cell efficiency. The electrical resistivity of the 200-W sputtered ZnO:Al film was $5.2{\times}10^{-4}{\Omega}{\cdot}cm$ by the rapid thermal annealing at $200^{\circ}C$ for 1 min. The electrical resistivity of i-ZnO was not measurable due to its high resistance. But the optical transmittance was highest with less oxygen supply and high efficiency cell was achieved with $O_2/(Ar+O_2)$ ratio was 1% due to the increase of short-circuit current. No significant change in the cell performance by inserting a Ni layer between Al and ZnO:Al films was observed.

• ETRI Journal
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• v.38 no.2
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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.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 2000.07c
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• pp.1625-1627
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• 2000

Cu(InGa)$Se_2$(CIGS) thin film absorbers with various Cu/(In+Ga) atomic ratios were prepared by a three-stage process using a co-evaporation appartus. The effect of Na on the structural and electrical properties of CIGS films were studied and their effects on the CIGS/Mo thin film solar cells were investigated. Soda-lime glass and Corning glass were used as substrates to compare the effect of Na diffusion into CIGS film. The resistivity of CIGS films was not changed in the Cu-poor lesion due to diffusion of Na from soda-lime glass but was mainly determined by the surface resistivity controlled by excess Na.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.95-115
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• 2012

Although indium (In) is not an abundant element, the use of indium is expected to grow, especially as applied to copper-indium-(gallium)-selenide (CI(G)S) solar cells. In future when CIGS solar cells will be used extensively, the available amount of indium could be a limiting factor, unless a synthetic technique of efficiently utilizing the element is developed. Current vacuum techniques inherently produce a significant loss of In during the synthetic process, while electrodeposition exploits nearly 100% of the In, with little loss of the material. Thus, an electrochemical process will be the method of choice to produce alloys of In once the proper conditions are designed. In this review, we examine the electrochemical processes of electrodeposition in the synthesis of indium alloys. We focus on the conditions under which alloys are electrodeposited and on the factors that can affect the composition or properties of alloys. The knowledge is to facilitate the development of electrochemical means of efficiently using this relatively rare element to synthesize valuable materials, for applications such as solar cells and light-emitting devices.

• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
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• 2008.11a
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• pp.36.2-36.2
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• 2008

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.173-181
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• 2008