• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2016.02a
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• pp.431-431
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• 2016

Typical Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGS)-based solar cells have a buffer layer between CIGS absorber layer and transparent ZnO front electrode, which plays an important role in improving the cell performance. Among various buffer materials, chemical bath deposition (CBD)-ZnS is being steadily studied to alternative to conventional CdS and the efficiency of CBD-ZnS/CIGS solar cell shows the comparable values with that of CdS/CIGS solar cell. The intriguing thing is that reversible changes occur after exposure to illumination due to the metastable defect states in completed ZnS/CIGS solar cell, which induces an improvement of solar cell performance. Thus, it implies that the understanding of metastable defects in CBD-ZnS/CIGS solar cell is important issue. In this study, we fabricate the ITO/i-ZnO/CBD-ZnS/CIGS/Mo/SLG solar cells by controlling the NH4OH mole concentration (from 2 M to 3.5 M) of CBD-ZnS buffer layer and observe their conversion efficiency with and without light soaking for 1 hr. From the results, NH4OH mole concentration and light exposure can significantly affect the CBD-ZnS/CIGS solar cell performance. In order to investigate that which layer can contain metastable defect states to influence on solar cell performance, impedance spectroscopy and capacitance profiling technique with exposure to illumination have been applied to CBD-ZnS/CIGS solar cell. These techniques give a very useful information on the density of states within the bandgap of CIGS, free carriers density, and light-induced metastable effects. Here, we present the rearranged charge distribution after exposure to illumination and suggest the origin of the metastable defect states in CBD-ZnS/CIGS solar cell.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2010.06a
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• pp.85.1-85.1
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• 2010

$Cu(In,Ga)Se_2$ (CIGS) thin film solar cell is currently 19.5% higher efficiency and developing a large area technology. The structure of CIGS solar cell that make five unit layers as back contact, light absorption, buffer, front transparent conducting electrode and antireflection to make them sequentially forming. Materials and various compositions of thin film unit which also manufacture a variety method used by the physical and chemical method for CIGS solar cell. The construction and performance test of evaporator for CIGS thin film solar cell has been done. The vapor pressures were changed by using vapor flux meter. The vapor pressure were copper (Cu) $2.1{\times}10^{-7}{\sim}3.0{\times}10^{-7}$ Torr, indium (In) $8.0{\times}10^{-7}{\sim}9.0{\times}10^{-7}$ Torr, gallium (Ga) $1.4{\times}10^{-7}{\sim}2.8{\times}10^{-7}$ Torr, and selenium (Se) $2.1{\times}10^{-6}{\sim}3.2{\times}10^{-6}$ Torr, respectively. The characteristics of the CIGS thin film was investigated by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM/EDS) and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy using a He-Ne laser. In PL spectrum, temperature dependencies of PL spectra were measured at 1137 nm wavelength.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2010.06a
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• pp.61.1-61.1
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• 2010

$CuIn_{1-x}-GaxSe_2$ based materials with direct bandgap and high absorption coefficient are promising materials for high efficiency hetero-junction solar cells. CIGS champion cell efficiency(19.9%, AM1.5G) is very close to polycrystalline silicon(20.3%, AM1.5G). A reduction in the price of CIGS module is required for competing with well matured silicon technology. Price reduction can be achieved by decreasing the manufacturing cost and by increasing module efficiency. Manufacturing cost is mostly dominated by capital cost. Device properties of CIGS are strongly dependent on doping, defect chemistry and structure which in turn are dependent on growth conditions. The complex chemistry of CIGS is not fully understood to optimize and scale processes. Control of the absorber grain size, structural quality, texture, composition profile in the growth direction is important to achieving reliable device performance. In the present work, CIS nanoparticles were prepared by a simple wet chemical synthesis method and their structural and optical properties were investigated. XRD patterns of as-grown nanopowders indicate CIS(Cubic), $CuSe_2$(orthorhombic) and excess selenium. Further, as-grown and annealed nanopowders were characterized by HRTEM and ICP-OES. Grain growth of the nanopowders was followed as a function of temperature using HT-XRD with overpressure of selenium. It was found that significant grain growth occurred between $300-400^{\circ}C$ accompanied by formation of ${\beta}-Cu_{2-x}Se$ at high temperature($500^{\circ}C$) consistent with Cu-Se phase diagram. The result suggests that grain growth follows VLS mechanism which would be very useful for low temperature, high quality and economic processing of CIGS based solar cells.

• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
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• 2011.05a
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• pp.47.1-47.1
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• 2011

최근 친환경의 재생 가능한 에너지에 대한 관심이 급증하면서 태양전지에 대한 연구가 국내외에서 활발히 진행중이다. 특히 기존 태양전지 시장을 장악하던 실리콘 태양전지를 대체하고 새로운 기능을 부여하기 위해 박막형 태양전지의 필요성과 새로운 태양전지용 소재 개발에 관심이 집중되고 있다. CIGS는 이러한 요구에 부합하는 소재로써 진공증착법을 통한 CIGS 박막 태양전지에 대한 많은 연구가 진행되고 있다. 이와 함께, 경제성과 대면적화의 용이성을 목표로 CIGS의 비진공증착법에 대한 연구도 병행되고 있다. 본 연구에서는 비진공증착법중 전기화학적 전착방법을 이용하여 CIGS박막을 형성하는 기초연구를 진행하였다. CIGS 박막의 표면 및 결정립 제어를 위하여 젤라틴을 첨가제로 이용하여 CIGS 박막을 제조하였으며 첨가제의 농도, 전착 인가전압 등을 변수로 박막을 형성시켜 특성을 분석하였다. 첨가제가 박막의 특성에 미치는 영향을 알아보기 위하여 첨가제의 양에 따른 박막의 결정성과 표면 구조를 각각 XRD 및 FE-SEM (EDS)을 이용하여 분석하였다. 첨가제의 농도와 전착 인가전압에 따라 상대적으로 매우 우수한 표면 특성을 가지는 박막을 얻을 수 있었고 특히 특정농도의 젤라틴은 기존의 CIGS 박막의 결정성을 유지시켜 주는 것을 확인하였다. 또한 일정한 첨가제 농도 조건에서 인가전압을 변화시키며 증착한 필름의 CIGS 원소비를 분석함으로서 첨가제를 이용한 전기화학적 전착법에서 인가전압이 박막의 조성비에 미치는 영향을 분석하였다. 첨가제를 이용한 낮은 전압에서의 전착을 통해 우수한 표면 특성을 유지하면서 동시에 희귀원소인 In과 Ga의 증착을 더욱 용이하게 하는 새로운 방법에 대해 고찰하였다.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2014.02a
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• pp.312.1-312.1
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• 2014

Chalcopyrite계 화합물 반도체인 $Cu(InGa)Se_2$ (CIGS)는 직접천이형 에너지 밴드갭과 전파장 영역에 대하여 높은 광흡수계수($1{\times}$[10]^5/cm)를 가지므로 두께 $1{\sim}2{\mu}m$인 박막형태으로 고효율의 태양전지 제조가 가능하다. 또한, 박막공정의 저가 가능성을 나타내면서 전세계적으로 많은 연구와 관심을 받고 있고, 현재 상용화되어 있는 결정질실리콘 태양전지를 대체할만한 재료로 주목 받고 있다. 일반적으로, CIGS박막형 태양전지 구성은는 유리를 기판으로 하여 5개의 단위 박막인 Mo 후면전극, p형 반도체 CIGS 광흡수층, n형 반도체 CdS 버퍼층, doped-ZnO 상부 투명전극, $MgF_2$ 반사방지막으로 이루어진다. 이들 중에서 태양전지의 에너지 변환효율에 결정적인 영향을 미치는 구성된다. CIGS 광흡수층의 제조는 크게 진공법과 비진공방법으로 나뉜다. 현재까지 보고된 문헌에 따르면 CIGS 박막형 태양전지의 경우에 동시증발법으로 20.3%의 에너지 변환효율을 보였지만,는데, 이는 진공장비 특성상 공정단가가 높고 대면적화가 어렵다는 단점을 가진다. 따라서, 비진공법을 이용하여 광흡수층 제작하는 것이 기술적으로 진보할 여지가 크다고 볼 수 있다. 반면 현재 상용화되어 있는 결정질실리콘 태양전지를 대체할만한 방법으로 주목 받고 있는 비진공을 이용한 저가공정은 최근 15.5%의 에너지 변환효율이 보고 되었다. 비진공법에는 전계를 이용한 증착법 및 스프레이법으로 나뉘며, 이들 광흡수층 재료의 화학적 합성은 III족 원소인 In, Ga의 함량비에 따라 광흡수층의 에너지 밴드갭(1.04~1.5 eV) 조절이 가능하다. 따라서, 본 연구에서는 비진공법에 사용되는 CIGS재료의 화학적 합성조건을 변화시켜 III족 원소의 조성비 조절을 시도하였다. CIGS 분말 시료의 입자 형태와 크기를 FE-SEM을 이용하여 관찰하였고, 화합물의 성분비를 EDX 및 XRD 분석을 통해 Ga 함량에 따른 구조적 차이를 비교해 보았다.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2012.02a
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• pp.382-382
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• 2012

CIGS thin films have received great attention as a promising material for solar cells due to their high absorption coefficient, appropriate bandgap, long-term stability, and low cost production. CIGS thin films are deposited by various methods such as co-evaporation, sputtering, spray pyrolysis and electro-deposition. The deposition technique is one of the most important processes in preparing CIGS thin film solar cells. Among these methods, co-evaporation is one of the best technique for obtaining high quality and stoichiometric CIGS films. However, co-evaporation method is known to be unsuitable for commercialization. The sputtering is known to be very effective and feasible process for mass production. In this study, CIGS thin films have prepared by rf magnetron sputtering using a $Cu(In_{1-x}Ga_x)Se_2$ single quaternary target without post deposition selenization. This process has been examined by the effects of deposition parameters on the structural and compositional properties of the films. In addition, we will explore the influences of substrate temperature and additional annealing treatment after deposition on the characteristics of CIGS thin films. The thickness of CIGS films will be measured by Tencor-P1 profiler. The crystalline properties and surface morphology of the films will be analyzed using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy, respectively. The optical properties of the films will be determined by UV-Visible spectroscopy. Electrical properties of the films will be measured using van der Pauw geometry and Hall effect measurement at room temperature using indium ohmic contacts.

• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
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• 2012.05a
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• pp.92-92
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• 2012

Chalcopyrite-type Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGS) is one of the most attractive compound semiconductor materials for thin film solar cells. Among various approaches to prepare the CIGS thin film, the powder process offers an extremely simple and materials-efficient method. Here, we present the mechano-chemical synthesis of CIGS compound powders and their use as an ink material for screen-printing. During the synthesis process, milling time and speed were varied in the range of 10~600 min and 100~300 rpm, respectively. Both phase evolution and powder characteristics were carefully monitored by X-ray diffraction (XRD) method, scanning electron microscope (SEM) observation, and particle size analysis by scanning mobility particle spectrometer (SMPS) and aerodynamic particle sizer (APS). We found the optimal milling condition as 200 rpm for 120 min but also found that a monolithic phase of CIGS powders without severe particle aggregation was difficult to be obtained by the mechano-chemical milling alone. Therefore, the optimized milling condition was combined with an adequate heat-treatment (300oC for 60 min) to provide the monolithic CIGS powder of a single phase with affordable particle characteristics for the preparation of CIGS thin film. The powder was used to prepare an ink for screen printing with which dense CIGS thin films were fabricated under the controlled selenization. The morphology and electrical properties of the thin films were analyzed by SEM images and hall measurement, respectively.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2011.02a
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• pp.370-370
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• 2011

I-III-IV2족의 Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGS) 박막 태양전지는 3단계(three-stage) 동시증발공정을 통하여 약 19.9%의 최고의 효율을 보유하고 있다. 3단계 공정에 있어 IV2족 Se의 증발 속도 또는 증착압력은 우선 배향성 제어 및 표면 미세구조 영향 등에 큰 영향을 미치는 것으로 알려져 있다. 본 연구에서는 CIGS 박막 합성을 위한 3단계 공정에서 각 단계별 Se 분압의 변화를 주어, 각 공정 단계에서 Se 분압의 변화가 CIGS 박막의 미세구조 및 셀 효율에 미치는 영향을 분석하였다. 3단계 공정에서 Cu, In, Ga 분압은 고정시키고, Se 분압의 크기 순서대로 1, 2, 3으로 변화시켜 CIGS 박막을 제조하였다. 이 박막의 미세구조, 특히, 우선 배향성, 표면의 기공, 결정성을 제어 하기 위하여 3단계 공정에서 1st stage 이후 Se 분압을 증가시키는 방법($3{\rightarrow}1$, $2{\rightarrow}1$)과 1st stage 이 후 Se 분압을 감소시키는 방법($1{\rightarrow}3$, $1{\rightarrow}2$)을 적용하여 비교하였다. 그 결과 3단계에서 1st stage 이후 Se 분압을 증가시킴으로써 (220)/(204)의 우선 배향성을 촉진시키며, 결정성을 개선하였고, 1st stage 이후 Se 분압을 감소시킴으로써 CIGS 박막 표면의 기공을 제거하고, 결정성을 향상시켰다. 이렇게 1st stage이 후 Se 분압을 증가시킴으로써 (220)/(204)의 우선 배향성의 촉진과 결정성 개선은 단락 전류(Jsc)를 증가시켰으며, 1st stage 이후 Se 분압을 감소시킴으로써 CIGS 박막 표면의 기공을 제거와 결정성 개선은 개방전압(Voc)의 증가효과를 가져왔다.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.20 no.8
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• pp.434-438
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• 2010

The selenization process has been a promising method for low-cost and large-scale production of high quality CIGS film. However, there is the problem that most Ga in the CIGS film segregates near the Mo back contact. So the solar cell behaves like a $CuInSe_2$ and lacks the increased open-circuit voltage. In this study we investigated the Ga distribution in CIGS films by using the $Ga_2Se_3$ layer. The $Ga_2Se_3$ layer was applied on the Cu-In-Ga metal layer to increase Ga content at the surface of CIGS films and to restrict Ga diffusion to the CIGS/Mo interface with Ga and Se bonding. The layer made by thermal evaporation was showed to an amorphous $Ga_2Se_3$ layer in the result of AES depth profile, XPS and XRD measurement. As the thickness of $Ga_2Se_3$ layer increased, a small-grained CIGS film was developed and phase seperation was showed using SEM and XRD respectively. Ga distributions in CIGS films were investigated by means of AES depth profile. As a result, the [Ga]/[In+Ga] ratio was 0.2 at the surface and 0.5 near the CIGS/Mo interface when the $Ga_2Se_3$ thickness was 220 nm, suggesting that the $Ga_2Se_3$ layer on the top of metal layer is one of the possible methods for Ga redistribution and open circuit voltage increase.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2007.11a
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• pp.234-234
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• 2007