Optical and structural properties of sputtered CdS films for thin film solar cell applications

• CdS thin films were grown by a RF magnetron sputtering method.
• Influence of growth temperature on the properties of CdS films was investigated.
• At higher Tg, the crystallinity of the films improved and the grains enlarged.
• CdS/CdTe solar cells with efficiencies of 9.41% were prepared at 300 °C.

CdS thin films were prepared by radio frequency magnetron sputtering at various temperatures. The effects of growth temperature on crystallinity, surface morphology and optical properties of the films were characterized with X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), Raman spectra, UV–visible spectrophotometry, and photoluminescence (PL) spectra. As the growth temperature was increased, the crystallinity of the sputtered CdS films was improved and the grains were enlarged. The characteristics of CdS/CdTe thin film solar cell appeared to be significantly influenced by the growth temperature of the CdS films. Thin film CdS/CdTe solar cells with efficiencies of 9.41% were prepared at a growth temperature of 300 °C.

Photo current–voltage curves (a) and the quantum efficiency (QE) (b) for the solar cell with CdS film grown at 300 °C.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide