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Development of ZnO nanowire based CdTe thin film solar cells

Major, Jonathan D.; Tena-Zaera, Ramon; Azaceta, Eneko; Bowen, L.; Durose, K.

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Authors

Jonathan D. Major

Ramon Tena-Zaera

Eneko Azaceta

Leon Bowen leon.bowen@durham.ac.uk
Senior Manager (Electron Microscopy)

K. Durose



Abstract

This work reports on the development of CdTe thin film solar cells grown on ZnO nanowire arrays. The focus was placed on utilising ZnO nanowire arrays as a replacement to the conventional ZnO thin film buffer layer, thereby requiring minimal alteration to the existing solar cell structure. Incorporation of nanowires was found to alter subsequent film growth and processing, with the nanowire dimensions changing device performance significantly. Shorter, ~100 nm, wires were found to produce particularly low device performance of <0.5% whilst longer wires in the range 250–2000 nm were able to produce more functional cells. Working devices of up to 9.5% efficiency were achieved through the production of “embedded tip” nanowire solar cells. Variation of the nanowires length demonstrated that the nanowires were involved in carrier recombination and that this may be the performance limiting factor.

Citation

Major, J. D., Tena-Zaera, R., Azaceta, E., Bowen, L., & Durose, K. (2017). Development of ZnO nanowire based CdTe thin film solar cells. Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, 160, 107-115. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solmat.2016.10.024

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Oct 9, 2016
Online Publication Date Oct 24, 2016
Publication Date Feb 1, 2017
Deposit Date Jul 14, 2017
Publicly Available Date Jul 14, 2017
Journal Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells
Print ISSN 0927-0248
Publisher Elsevier
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 160
Pages 107-115
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solmat.2016.10.024

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