• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.16 no.10
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• pp.871-880
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• 2003

Single crystal CuAlSe$_2$ layers were grown on thoroughly etched semi-insulating GaAs(100) substrate at 410 C with hot wall epitaxy (HWE) system by evaporating CuAlSe$_2$ source at 680 C. The crystalline structure of the single crystal thin films was investigated by the photoluminescence(PL) and double crystal X -ray diffraction (DCXD). The carrier density and mobility of single crystal CuAlSe$_2$ thin films measured with Hall effect by van der Pauw method are 9.24${\times}$10$\^$16/ cm$\^$-3/ and 295 cm$^2$/V $.$ s at 293 K, respectively. The temperature dependence of the energy band gap of the CuAlSe$_2$ obtained from the absorption spectra was well described by the Varshni's relation, Eg(T) = 2.8382 eV - (8.86 ${\times}$ 10$\^$-4/ eV/K)T$^2$/(T + 155K). After the as-grown single crystal CuAlSe$_2$ thin films were annealed in Cu-, Se-, and Al-atmospheres, the origin of point defects of single crystal CuAlSe$_2$ thin films has been investigated by PL at 10 K. The native defects of V$\_$cd/, V$\_$se/, Cd$\_$int/, and Se$\_$int/ obtained by PL measurements were classified as donors or acceptors. And we concluded that the heat-treatment in the Cu-atmosphere converted single crystal CuAlSe$_2$ thin films to an optical n-type. Also, we confirmed that Al in CuAlSe$_2$/GaAs did not form the native defects because Al in single crystal CuAlSe$_2$ thin films existed in the form of stable bonds.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.526-532
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• 2015

Solar cells with other alternative energies are being importantly recognized related with post-2020 climate change regime formation. In a point of view of materials, solar cells are classified to organic and inorganic solar cells which can provide a plant-scale electricity. In particular, recent studies about compound semiconductor solar cells, such as III-V tandem solar cells, chalcopyrite-series CIGSSe solar cells, and kesterite-series CZTSSe solar cells were rapidly accelerated. In this report, we introduce a research trend and technical issues for the compound semiconductor solar cells.

• ETRI Journal
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.1129-1134
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• 2015

In this article, a study of a flower like nanostructured CdS buffer layer for improving the performance of a submicron-thick $CuIn_{1-x}Ga_xSe_2$ (CIGS) solar cell (SC) is presented. Both its synthesis and properties are discussed in detail. The surface reflectance of the device is dramatically decreased. SCs with flower like nanostructured CdS buffer layers enhance short-circuit current density, fill factor, and open-circuit voltage. These enhancements contribute to an increase in power conversion efficiency of about 55% on average compared to SCs that don't have a flower like nanostructured CdS buffer layer, despite them both having the same CIGS light absorbing layer.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.183-189
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• 2013

$Cu_2ZnSn(S,Se)_4$ material is receiving an increased amount of attention for solar cell applications as an absorber layer because it consists of inexpensive and abundant materials (Zn and Sn) instead of the expensive and rare materials (In and Ga) in $Cu(In,Ga)Se_2$ solar cells. We were able to achieve a cell conversion efficiency to 4.7% by the selenization of a stacked metal precursor with the Cu/(Zn + Sn)/Mo/glass structure. However, the selenization of the metal precursor results in large voids at the absorber/Mo interface because metals diffuse out through the top CZTSe layer. To avoid the voids at the absorber/Mo interface, binary selenide compounds of ZnSe and $SnSe_2$ were employed as a precursor instead of Zn and Sn metals. It was found that the precursor with Cu/$SnSe_2$/ZnSe stack provided a uniform film with larger grains compared to that with $Cu_2Se/SnSe_2$/ZnSe stack. Also, voids were not observed at the $Cu_2ZnSnSe_4$/Mo interface. A severe loss of Sn was observed after a high-temperature annealing process, suggesting that selenization in this case should be performed in a closed system with a uniform temperature in a $SnSe_2$ environment. However, in the experiments, Cu top-layer stack had more of an effect on reducing Sn loss compared to $Cu_2Se$ top-layer stack.

• 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.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.107-112
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• 2010

The Cu$(In_{1-x}Ga_x)Se_2$ is the absorber material for thin film solar cell with high absorption coefficient of $1{\times}10^5cm^{-1}$. In the case of CIGS, the movable energy band gap from $CuInSe_2$ (1.00 eV) to $CuGaSe_2$ (1.68 eV) can be acquired while controlling Ga contain ratio. Generally, the co-evaporator method have used for development and fabrication of the CIGS absorption layer. However, this method should need many steps and lengthy deposition time with high temperature. For these reasons, in this paper, a new growth method of CIGS layer was attempted to hydride vapor transport (HVT) method. The CIGS mixed-source material reacted for HCl gas in the source zone was deposited on the substrate after transporting to growth zone. c-plane $Al_2O_3$ and undoped GaN were used as substrates for growth. The characteristics of grown samples were measured from SEM and EDS.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2010.02a
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• pp.285-285
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• 2010

$Cu(In,Ga)Se_2$ (CIGS) 박막 태양전지 제조에는 동시증발법 (co-evaporation)으로 Cu, In, Ga, Se 각 원소의 증발을 세 단계로 제어하여 CIGS 박막을 증착하는 3-stage 방법이 널리 이용된다[1]. 3-stage 중 1st-stage에서는 In, Ga, Se 원소 만을 증발시켜 $(In,Ga)_2Se_3$ 전구체 (precursor) 박막을 성장시킨다. 고효율의 CIGS 태양전지를 위해서는 $(In,Ga)_2Se_3$ 전구체 증착의 공정 변수와 이에 따른 박막 특성의 이해가 중요하다. 본 연구에서는 Mo 박막이 증착된 소다석회유리 (soda lime glass) 기판에 동시증발장비를 이용하여 280 380 의 기판 온도에서 In, Ga, Se 물질을 증발시켜 $(In,Ga)_2Se_3$/Mo/glass 시료를 제작하였으며 XRD, SEM, EDS 등의 방법을 이용하여 특성을 분석하였다. XRD 분석 결과 기판 온도 $280{\sim}330^{\circ}C$에서는 $(In,Ga)_2Se_3$ 박막의 (006), (300) 피크가 관찰되었으며, 기판 온도가 증가할수록 (006) 피크 세기는 감소하였고 (300) 피크 세기는 증가하였다. $380^{\circ}C$에서는 (110)을 포함한 다수의 피크가 관찰되었다. 그레인 (grain) 크기는 기판 온도가 증가할수록 커지며 Ga/(In+Ga) 조성비는 기판 온도에 따라 일정함을 각각 SEM과 EDS 측정을 통해 알 수 있었다. $(In,Ga)_2Se_3$ 전구체의 (300) 배향은 CIGS 박막의 (220/204) 배향을 촉진하고[2], 이것은 높은 광전변환효율에 기여하는 것으로 알려져 있다. 때문에 $(In,Ga)_2Se_3$의 (300) 피크의 세기가 가장 큰 조건인 $330^{\circ}C$를 1st-stage 증착 온도로 하여 3-stage CIGS 태양전지 공정을 수행하였으며, $MgF_2$/Al/Ni/ITO/i-ZnO/CdS/CIGS/Mo/glass 구조의 셀에서 광전변환효율 16.96%를 얻었다.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2010.08a
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• pp.295-295
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• 2010

Nanoparticles of the compound semiconductor, Cu(In, Ga)Se2 (CIGS), were synthesized in solution under ambient pressure below $100^{\circ}C$ and characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), optical absorption spectroscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) analyses. These materials have chalcopyrite crystal structures and the particle sizes less than 100 nm. Synthetic conditions were studied for the crystallized CIGS nanoparticles formation to prevent from side products of Cu2Se, Cu2-xSe, and CuSe etc. The single phase CIGS nanoparticles were applied to coating of thin films photovoltaic cells. The electro deposition of CIGS thin films is also a good non-vacuum technology and under investigation. In aqueous solutions, the different chemical compositions of CIGS thin films were obtained, depending on pH, concentration of starting materials and deposition potentials. The surface morphology of the prepared CIGS thin films depends on the complexing ligands to the solutions during the electrochemical deposition.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2005.11a
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• pp.76-77
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• 2005

Single crystal $CuAlSe_2$ layers were grown on thoroughly etched semi-insulating GaAs(100) substrate at 410$^{\circ}C$ with hot wall epitaxy (HWE) system by evaporating $CuAlSe_2$ source at $680^{\circ}C$. The crystalline structure of the single crystal thin films was investigated by the photoluminescence(PL) and double crystal X-ray diffraction (DCXO). The temperature dependence of the energy band gap of the $CuAlSe_2$ obtained from the absorpt ion spectra was wel1 described by the Varshni's relation, $E_g$(T) = 2.8382 eV - ($8.86\times10^{-4}$ eV/H)$T_2$/(T + 155K). After the as-grown single crystal $CuAlSe_2$ thin films were annealed in Cu-, Se-, and Al-atmospheres, the origin of point defects of single crystal $CuAlSe_2$ thin films has been investigated by PL at 10 K. The native defects of $V_{cd}$, $V_{se}$, $Cd_{int}$, and $Se_{int}$ obtained by PL measurements were classified as donors or acceptors. And we concluded that the heat-treatment in the Cu-atmosphere converted single crystal $CuAlSe_2$ thin films to an optical n-type. Also. we confirmed that hi in $CuAlSe_2$/GaAs did not form the native defects because Al in single crystal $CuAlSe_2$ thin films existed in the form of stable bonds.

• Current Photovoltaic Research
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.69-72
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• 2014

We investigated current-voltage (I-V) and capacitance (C)-V characteristics of solution-processed thin film solar cells, consisting of $Cu(In,Ga)S_2$ and $CuInS_2$ stacked absorber layers. The ideality factors, extracted from the temperature-dependent I-V curves, showed that the tunneling-mediated interface recombination was dominant in the cells. Rapid increase of both series- and shunt-resistance at low temperatures would limit the performance of the cells, requiring further optimization. The C-V data revealed that the carrier concentration of the $CuInS_2$ layer was about 10 times larger than that of the $Cu(In,Ga)S_2$ layer. All these results could help us to find strategies to improve the efficiency of the solution-processed thin film solar cells.