Development of a technique for restoring the efficiency of film ITO/CdS/CdTe/Cu/Au SCs after degradation

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15587/1729-4061.2019.156565

Keywords:

cadmium telluride solar cell degradation, recovery technique, output parameters, light diode characteristics

Abstract

A study into the influence of direct polarity on the output parameters of ITO/CdS/CdTe/Cu/Au solar cells (SC) has been conducted. We have experimentally registered the effect of an electric field of direct polarity on the output parameters and light diode characteristics of ITO/CdS/CdTe/Cu/Au SCs, which underwent a degradation of efficiency. When a shaded SE is exposed for not less than 120 minutes to the electric field, induced by an external DC voltage of magnitude (0.5‒0.9) V, whose polarity corresponds to the forward bias of n-p heterojunction, there is an increase in efficiency coefficient. This becomes possible if, during degradation of the instrument structure, such defects did not have time to develop, which, over the specified time of exposure, lead to resettable alternating electric microbreakdowns. It has been established that an increase in efficiency coefficient comes at the expense of the increased density of a photocurrent, decreased sequential and increased shunt resistances of SC. Improvement of diode characteristics occurs due to several physical processes. When a SC is fed a forward bias voltage, an electric field forms inside the diode structure of SC, which amplifies the built-in electric field of the rear р-р+ heterojunction and suppresses the built-in electric field of the frontal n+-p heterojunction. That occurs because the diodes are turned on towards each other. The magnitude of a forward bias voltage must not exceed the height of the potential barrier in a heterojunction. In this case, at the rear р-р+ heterojunction and in its adjoining areas from both sides the processes will be intensified that are associated with the transport of copper atoms, the restructuring of complexes of point defects containing copper, and the phase transformations of Cu1,4Te into Cu2-xTe. In addition, under the influence of the field induced by a forward bias voltage, the CuCd- particles from the depletion area of a CdS layer will start moving towards the absorber. That should reduce the resistance part of the CdS layer and lead to a decrease in the depletion area width from the absorber's side, thereby increasing the spectral sensitivity of SC in the shortwave and medium-wave fields of solar spectrum. Electrodiffusion of additional amount of CuCd- to the absorber must enhance the above-described and related effect of the increased spectral sensitivity and thus Jph of instruments. Based on the conducted research, we have constructed an algorithm for restoring the efficiency of ITO/CdS/CdTe/Cu/Au SCs and for rejecting the irrevocably degraded instrumental structures included in a running module

Author Biographies

Natalya Deyneko, National University of Civil Defence of Ukraine Chernyshevska str., 94, Kharkiv, Ukraine, 61023

PhD

Scientific Department of Problems of Civil Protection and Technogenic and Ecological Safety of the Scientific and Research Center

Pavlo Kovalev, National University of Civil Defence of Ukraine Chernyshevska str., 94, Kharkiv, Ukraine, 61023

PhD, Associate Professor

Department of Fire and Rescue Training

Oleg Semkiv, National University of Civil Defence of Ukraine Chernyshevska str., 94, Kharkiv, Ukraine, 61023

Doctor of Technical Sciences, Vice Rector

Igor Khmyrov, National University of Civil Defence of Ukraine Chernyshevska str., 94, Kharkiv, Ukraine, 61023

PhD

Department of Supervision and Prevention

Roman Shevchenko, National University of Civil Defence of Ukraine Chernyshevska str., 94, Kharkiv, Ukraine, 61023

PhD, Senior Researcher

Scientific Department of Problems of Civil Protection and Technogenic and Ecological Safety of the Scientific and Research Center

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Published

2019-02-13

How to Cite

Deyneko, N., Kovalev, P., Semkiv, O., Khmyrov, I., & Shevchenko, R. (2019). Development of a technique for restoring the efficiency of film ITO/CdS/CdTe/Cu/Au SCs after degradation. Eastern-European Journal of Enterprise Technologies, 1(5 (97), 6–12. https://doi.org/10.15587/1729-4061.2019.156565

Issue

Vol. 1 No. 5 (97) (2019): Applied physics

Section

Applied physics

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Copyright (c) 2019 Natalya Deyneko, Pavlo Kovalev, Oleg Semkiv, Igor Khmyrov, Roman Shevchenko

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