Microscopic Analysis of Interdiffusion and Void Formation in CdTe(1–x)Sex and CdTe Layers

Baines, Tom; Bowen, Leon; Mendis, Budhika G.; Major, Jonathan D.

doi:10.1021/acsami.0c09381

Microscopic Analysis of Interdiffusion and Void Formation in CdTe(1–x)Sex and CdTe Layers

Baines, Tom; Bowen, Leon; Mendis, Budhika G.; Major, Jonathan D.

Authors

Tom Baines

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

Dr Buddhika Mendis b.g.mendis@durham.ac.uk
Associate Professor

Jonathan D. Major

Abstract

The use of CdSe layers has recently emerged as a route to improving CdTe photovoltaics through the formation of a CdTe(1–x)Sex (CST) phase. However, the extent of the Se diffusion and the influence it has on the CdTe grain structure has not been widely investigated. In this study, we used transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) to investigate the impact of growing CdTe layers on three different window layer structures CdS, CdSe, and CdS/CdSe. We demonstrate that extensive intermixing occurs between CdS, CdSe, and CdTe layers resulting in large voids forming at the front interface, which will degrade device performance. The use of CdS/CdSe bilayer structures leads to the formation of a parasitic CdS(1–x)Sex phase. Following removal of CdS from the cell structure, effective CdTe and CdSe intermixing was achieved. However, the use of sputtered CdSe had limited success in producing Se grading in CST.

Citation

Baines, T., Bowen, L., Mendis, B. G., & Major, J. D. (2020). Microscopic Analysis of Interdiffusion and Void Formation in CdTe(1–x)Sex and CdTe Layers. ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, 12(34), 38070-38075. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.0c09381

Journal Article Type	Article
Acceptance Date	Jul 28, 2020
Online Publication Date	Aug 17, 2020
Publication Date	Aug 26, 2020
Deposit Date	Aug 24, 2020
Publicly Available Date	Aug 25, 2020
Journal	ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces
Print ISSN	1944-8244
Electronic ISSN	1944-8252
Publisher	American Chemical Society
Peer Reviewed	Peer Reviewed
Volume	12
Issue	34
Pages	38070-38075
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.0c09381

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