WP Leader: Darren Bagnall
WP Participants: Southampton, Glyndwr, Durham, Northumbria
WPs 1,2,3 and 8 bring new ideas and new science to solar cells. In this WP we maintain a cell making capacity on which we demonstrate and test the new concepts on real PV devices.
The platforms that we have established are:
1. Sublimation-grown CdTe ( Durham)
We use close-space sublimation grown CdTe and either CSS or sputter-grown CdS. All efficiencies are now greater than 10% on small devices, with a maximum of about 13%.
2. MOCVD-grown CdTe (Glyndwr)
We use an all-MOCVD process for the CdS and CdTe. Doping is by a novel co-doping route in which a) the CdTe is As-doped during growth, and b) in the same reactor, a layer of CdCl2 is applied to the CdTe and diffused in. This has generated device efficiencies up to ~13%.
3. Chalcopyrites - CIS (Northumbria)
A sputter - based CIS platform has been established at Northumbria which gives efficiencies of ~5%. The intention is to use this experience in developing new materials eg Cu(InAl)S2.
4. Thin film silicon.
We intend to set up a thin film silicon platform operation.
