Fabrication of CdS/CdTe solar cells with transparent p-type conductive BaCuSeF back contact

BaCuSeF films were applied to CdS/CdTe solar cells as back electrodes. The interfaces between the CdTe and BaCuSeF layers in the CdS/CdTe solar cells with BaCuSeF back contact deposited at substrate temperatures (TS) of 200 and 300 °C were analyzed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). We clearly observed many dislocations in the CdTe layer in the CdS/CdTe solar cell with the BaCuSeF layer deposited at TS = 300 °C. We also observed a reaction layer of Cu2.72Te2 between the BaCuSeF and CdTe layers in both solar cells. We concluded that (1) the substrate temperature for the pulsed laser deposition of the BaCuSeF layer and (2) the interface between the CdTe and BaCuSeF layers are important factors for the performance of the CdTe solar cells. We obtained high conversion efficiency of 8.31% for a solar cell with a BaCuSeF layer deposited at TS = 200 °C on a CdTe surface etched in a NH3 aqueous solution. The highest conversion efficiency of 9.91% was obtained for a solar cell with a CdTe surface etched in a bromide–bromate solution.