Development of high efficiency solar absorbers

Type
Thesis
Year of Publication
2014
Authors
Ram Ravichandran
Volume
Ph.D.
Date Published
Jan. 1, 2014
Publisher
Oregon State University
Abstract

Current cadmium telluride and copper indium gallium diselenide thin-film solar cells (TFSCs) utilize thick absorbers (2 - 4 μm). For efficient carrier extraction in these TFSCs, the absorber layer requires high carrier mobilities and a long minority carrier lifetime, which necessitates the use of a high purity, defect-free thin film. Developing new materials with absorption strengths stronger than those of current materials allows an ultra-thin (