• Current Photovoltaic Research
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2019

The $Cu(In,Ga)Se_2$ (CIGS) thin film obtained by two-step process (metal deposition and Se annealing) has a rough surface morphology and many voids at the CIGS/Mo interface. To solve the problem a precursor that contains Se was employer by depositing a (In,Se)/(Cu,Ga) stacked layer. We devised a two-step annealing (vacuum pre-annealing and Se annealing) for the precursor because direct annealing of the precursor in Se environment resulted in the small grains with unwanted demarcation between stacked layers. After vacuum pre-annealing up to $500^{\circ}C$ the CIGS film consisted of CIGS phase and secondary phases including $In_4Se_3$, InSe, and $Cu_9(In,Ga)_4$. The secondary phases were completely converted to CIGS phase by a subsequent Se annealing. A void-free CIGS/Mo interface was obtained by the two-step annealing process. Especially, the CIGS film prepared by vacuum annealing $450^{\circ}C$ and subsequent Se annealing $550^{\circ}C$ showed a densely-packed grains with smooth surface, well-aligned bamboo grains on the top of the film, little voids in the film, and also little voids at the CIGS/Mo interface. The smooth surface enhanced the cell performance due to the increase of shunt resistance.

• 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.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2013.02a
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• pp.415-415
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• 2013

We have investigated the optical and electrical properties of the CIGS thin film solar cells by the electroreflectance (ER), photoreflectance (PR), photoluminescence (PL), and photocurrent (PC) spectroscopies at room temperature. The ER spectrum had two narrow signal regions and one broad signal region. We measured PL and PC to confirm the signals at low energy region (1.02~1.35 eV), so these signals are related to the CIGS thin film, and the high energy region (2.10~2.52 eV) is related to the CdS bandgap energy. The broad signal region (1.35~2.09 eV) is due to the internal electric field by the p-n junction from the comparison between PR and ER spectra, and we calculated the internal electric field by the p-n junction. In the high efficiency solar cell, the CdS signal of ER spectrum is narrower than the lower efficiency solar cells.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.282-287
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• 2013

Hydrogen production from water using solar energy is attractive way to obtain clean energy resource. Among the various solar-to-hydrogen production techniques, a combination of a photovoltaic and an electrolytic cell is one of the most promising techniques in term of stability and efficiency. In this study, we show successful fabrication of precursor solution processed CIGS thin film solar cells which can generate high voltage. In addition, CIGS thin film solar cell modules producing over 2V of open circuit voltage were fabricated by connecting three single cells in series, which are applicable to water electrolysis. The operating current and voltage during water electrolysis was measured to be 4.23mA and 1.59V, respectively, and solar to hydrogen efficiency was estimated to be 3.9%.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2011.11a
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• pp.55.2-55.2
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• 2011

This research aims to study the effects of the incidence angle and surface temperature on the power generation performance of a thin-film CIGS solar cell for solar powered unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The test rig consists of a unit CIGS solar cell is installed on a table whose angle is controlled manually. A K-type thermocouple is attached to the solar cell surface for temperature measurements. A solar module analyzer measures the voltage and current generated from the test solar cell. The solar module analyzer also calculates the maximum solar power and efficiency of the solar cell. All test data are acquired in a PC. Test results show that the solar cell efficiency decreases significantly with increasing incidence angle and increasing surface temperature in general. As the incidence angle increases from 0 degree to 90 degree, the solar cell efficiency decreases by 60%. The solar cell efficiency decreases by 10% with increasing solar cell surface temperature from $20^{\circ}C$ to $30^{\circ}C$, for exmaple. The direct cooling method of the solar cell using dry ice decreases dramatically the solar cell surface temperature, thus increasing the solar cell efficiency by 15%.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2012.08a
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• pp.88-88
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• 2012

High efficiency thin film photovoltaic device technology is reviewed. At present market situation, the industrial players of thin film technologies have to confront the great recession and need to change their market strategies and find technical alternatives again. Most recent technology trends and technical or industrial progress for Silicon thin film and CIGS are introduced and common interests for high efficiency and reliability are discussed.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.89-95
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• 2010

The chalcopyrite $Cu(In_xGa_{(1-x)})Se_2$ (CIGS) is considered to be one of the effective light-absorbing materials for thin film photovoltaic solar cells. We describe the electrodeposition of CIGS thin films in ambient laboratory conditions, and suggest the electrochemical conditions to prepare stoichiometric CIGS thin films of Ga/(In + Ga) = 0.3. In acidic solutions containing $Cu^{2+}$, $In^{3+}$, $Ga^{3+}$ and $Se^{4+}$ ions, the CIGS films of different Cu/In/Ga/Se chemical compositions were electrodeposited onto Mo/Glass substrate. The structure, morphology and chemical composition of electrodeposited CIGS films were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), respectively.

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

• Current Photovoltaic Research
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.28-32
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• 2017

In this paper, (Ga,Al):ZnO layers were deposited by sputtering to evaluate the device performance according to the thickness of the layer. As the thickness increased, low transmittance was observed, but the electrical resistance was improved. On the other hand, the highest efficiency was recorded at 400 nm device than a 500 nm of it. Therefore, since the critical thickness exists, it is necessary to set an adequate TCO layer thickness in consideration of the characteristics of the underlying film and the device.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.225-230
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• 2011

CIGS solar cells are kind of thin film solar cells, which are studied several years. CdS buffer layer that makes heterojunction between window layer and absorbing layer was one of issue in the CIGS solar cell study. New types of buffer layer consisted of indium sulfide are being studied these days owing to high price and environmental harmful of CdS. In this study, we demonstrated electrochemical synthesis of indium sulfide film as a buffer layer, which is cheaper and faster than other methods. A uniform indium sulfide film was obtained by applying two different alternating potentials. The band gap of the film was optimized by controlling temperature during the electrochemical synthesis. Using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and diffraction method we confirmed that ${\beta}$-indium sulfide was formed on ITO electrode surface.