A comparative study of CdS thin films deposited by different techniques

Cadmium sulfide thin-films were deposited on glass slides and SnO2:F coated glass substrates by chemical bath deposition, sputtering and close-spaced sublimation techniques. The films were studied for the structural and opto-electronic properties after annealing in an ambient identical to that employed in the fabrication of CdTe/CdS devices. Quantum efficiency of the CdTe/CdS solar cells fabricated with CdS buffer films prepared by the three methods were investigated to understand the role of CdS film preparation method on the blue response of the devices. The higher blue response observed for the devices fabricated with chemical bath deposited CdS film is discussed.

► CdS films were prepared by different techniques.
► Role of CdS on the blue response of device was studied.
► Structural and optical properties of CdS were analyzed.
► Chemically deposited CdS has high blue transmittance.
► CdS deposition method influences diffusion of S and Te.