II - VI Compound Semiconductor Polycrystalline Thin Film Solar Cells: A Review.

Document Type : Research Studies

Authors

1 Electronics and Communications Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt.

2 Faculty of Engineering, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt.

Abstract

Thin - film polycrystalline solar cells are very promising for terrestrial applications. II - VI compound semiconductors are very good candidates, both in homo junction and heterojunction structures.  Various techniques are reported for the deposition of thin films of those materials, Ternary semiconductors have gained wide application in this film solar cells, and the highest photovoltaic conversion efficiency for a thin film compound solar cell has been reported for a CuInse2 - based cell. Quaternary alloys are starting to be considered for tailoring the device using varying energy bands and getting optimum lattice match. Postdeposition heat treatment is very important in determining the electrical characteristics of the film. 

Main Subjects