• Current Photovoltaic Research
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.97-100
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• 2015

The kesterite $Cu_2ZnSnSe_4$ (CZTSe) thin film solar cells were synthesized by selenization of sputtered Cu/Sn/Zn metallic precursors on Mo coated soda lime glass substrate in Ar atmosphere. Cu/Sn/Zn metallic precursors were deposited by DC magnetron sputtering process with 30 W power at room temperature. As-deposited metallic precursors were placed in a graphite box with Se pellets and selenized using rapid thermal processing furnace at various temperature ($480^{\circ}C{\sim}560^{\circ}C$) without using a toxic $H_2Se$ gas. Effects of Selenization temperature on the morphological, crystallinity, electrical properties and cell efficiency were investigated by field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), J-V measurement system and solar simulator. Further details about effects of selenization temperature on CZTSe thin films will be discussed.

• Current Photovoltaic Research
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.102-106
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• 2020

In this paper, the effect of MoSe₂ on the contact resistance (R_C) of the transparent conducting oxide (TCO) and Mo junction in the scribed P2 region of the Cu(In,Ga)Se₂ (CIGS) solar module was analyzed. The CIGS/Mo junction becomes ohmic-contact by MoSe₂, so the formation of the MoSe₂ layer is essential. However, the CIGS solar module has a TCO/MoSe₂/Mo junction in the P2 region due to structural differences from the cell. The contact resistance (R_C) of the P2 region was calculated using the transmission line method, and MoSe₂ was confirmed to increase R_C of the TCO/Mo junction. B doped ZnO (BZO) was used as TCO, and when BZO/MoSe₂ junction was formed, conduction band offset (CBO) of 0.6 eV was generated due to the difference in their electron affinities. It is expected that this CBO acts as a carrier transport barrier that disturbs the flow of current, resulting in increased R_C. In order to reduce the R_C caused by CBO, MoSe₂ must be made thin in a CIGS solar module.

• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
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• 2011.05a
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• pp.47.2-47.2
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• 2011

광전환 효율 20% (AM1.5G) 이상의 고효율 화합물 박막태양전지의 광흡수층으로 많은 관심을 받고 있는 $Cu(In,Ga)Se_2$ (CIGS) 태양전지의 광흡수층은 다양한 공정에 의해 제조가 가능하다. 현재 고효율 CIGS 셀 생성을 위해 널리 사용되고 있는 CIGS 흡수층 성장공정은 "co-evaporation (동시증발법)"과 2-step 공정이라 불리는 "precursorselenization(전구체-셀렌화)" 방법이다. 동시증발법은 개별원소 Cu, In, Ga, Se들을 고진공 분위기에서 고온(550~600$^{\circ}C$) 기판위에 증착하는 방법으로 소면적에서 가장 좋은 효율(~20%)을 보이는 공정이다. 하지만, 고온, 고진공 공정조건과 대면적 증착시 온도 및 조성 불균일 등의 문제점 등으로 상용화에 어려움이 있다. 전구체-셀렌화 공정은 1단계에서 다양한 방식(예: 스퍼터링, 전기도금, 프린팅 등) 방식으로 CuGaIn 전구체를 증착하고, 2단계에서 고온(550~600$^{\circ}C$)하에 H2Se gas 혹은 Se vapor와 반응시켜 CIGS를 생성한다. 일본의 Showa Shell와 Honda Soltec 등에 의해 이미 상업화 되었듯이, 저비용 대면적으로 상업화 가능성이 높은 공정으로 평가되고 있다. 하지만, 2단계에서 사용되는 H2Se 및 Se vapor의 유독성, 기상 Se과 금속전구체 간의 느린 셀렌화 반응속도, 셀렌화반응 후 생성된 CIGS 박막 두께방향으로의 Ga 불균일 분포, 생성된 CIGS/Mo 계면 접착력 저하 등의 문제점들이 개선, 해결되어야만 상업화에 성공할 수 있을 것이다. 본 연구에서는 Se layer가 코팅된 금속전구체의 셀렌화 반응메카니즘을 in-situ high-temperature XRD를 이용하여 연구하였다. 금속전구체는 스퍼터링, 스프레이 등 다양한 방법으로 제조되었고, 반응메카니즘 연구결과를 바탕으로 Se 코팅된 금속전구체를 이용한 급속열처리 공정의 최적화를 시도하였다.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2011.11a
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• pp.47.1-47.1
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• 2011

We report on a direct measurement of two-dimensional chemical and electrical distribution on the surface of photovoltaic Cu(In,Ga)$Se_2$ thin-films using a nano-scale spectroscopic and electrical characterization, respectively. The Raman measurement reveals non-uniformed surface phonon vibration which comes from different compositional distribution and defects in the nature of polycrystalline thin-films. On the other hand, potential analysis by scanning Kelvin probe force microscopy shows a higher surface potential or a small work function on grain boundaries of the thin-films than on the grain surfaces. This demonstrates the grain boundary is positively charged and local built-in potential exist on grain boundary, which improve electron-hole separation on grain boundary. Local electrical transport measurements with scanning probe microscopy on the thin-films indicates that as external bias is increases, local current is started to flow from grain boundary and saturated over 0.3 V external bias. This accounts for carrier behavior in the vicinity of grain boundary with regard to defect states. We suggest that electron-hole separation at the grain boundary as well as chemical and electrical distribution of polycrystalline Cu(In,Ga)$Se_2$ thin-films.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2011.08a
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• pp.367-367
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• 2011

태양전지에서 광흡수층으로 널리 쓰이는 CuInSe2은 전기적, 광학적 특성이 우수하고 20%대의 고효율을 기록하며 큰 관심을 받고 있다. 하지만 증발법 및 스퍼터링 등의 기존 진공, 고온 기반 공정 기술은 원천적인 공정비용 절감이 어렵고, 고가의 희귀원소인 In 등의 원료 활용도가 떨어져 실험실 수준에 머무르고 있다. 최근 공정 비용을 최소화와 원료 활용을 극대화를 통해 고효율 CIGS 박막형 태양전지를 제조하기 위해 비진공 방식의 전구체 박막 코팅 및 열처리를 통한 광흡수층 제조에 관한 연구가 활발히 진행되고 있으며, 본 연구는 doctor-blade coating을 이용하여 전구체 박막을 기판 위에 형성하고 열처리 온도에 따른 박막 물성 변화를 관찰함으로써 박막 형성 메커니즘을 밝히는데 주력하였다. 또한 합성된 박막의 전기적, 광학적 특성을 분석하여 태양전지 응용 가능성을 살펴보았다. 본 연구에서는 SEM, XRD, TGA 분석을 통해 Cu, In, Se 전구체들이 각각 binary phase, 즉, Cu2-xSe 및 In2Se3의 metal chalcogenide을 형성하고, 고온에서 서로 결합하여 CuInSe2로 결정화 되는 현상을 관찰하였다. 또한 합성된 CIS 박막은 근적외선 및 가시광 영역에서 높은 광흡수도를 보였으며, 전기적으로 Mo 전극과 ohmic contact을 이룸으로써 CIGS계 태양전지의 광흡수층으로의 적합성을 나타내었다.

• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.231-231
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• 2003

I-III-Ⅵ족 CuInGaSe$_2$(CIGS)계 화합물 태양전지는 1 eV 이상의 직접 천이형 에너지 밴드갭을 가지며, 전기 광학적으로 매우 안정하여 태양전지의 광흡수층으로 매우 이상적이다. CIGS 광흡수층제조를 위하여 용매열법 (solvothermal method)으로 CIGS나노입자를 합성하였다. 용매열법은 진공장비를 사용하던 기존의 방법에 비해 저온, 저압에서 저가로 합성할 수 있다는 장점을 가지고 있다. Copper, indium selenium 및 gallium 분말과 유기용매 ethylenediarnine을 autoclave안에서 반응시켜 CIGS 나노입자를 제조하였다. 280 에서 14시간동안 반응시켜 직경이 30-80 nm인 구형에 가까운 CIGS 나노입자를 얻었다. 이것은 용매열법에 의한 4성분계의 CIGS 나노입자의 최초 합성이다. diehyleneamine을 용매로 사용한 경우에 한하여 구형의 CIS 입자를 합성할 수 있다고 보고되었으나, Cu와 이중 N-chelation이 형성되는 ethylenediamine 용매임에도 불구하고 구형의 CIGS 나노분말이 형성된 것은 solution-liquid-solid (SLS) 기구로 설명할 수 있었다. HRSEM, TEM, XRD. EDS으로 나노분말의 형상 크기 및 조성을 조사하여 chalcopyrite 구조의 CuInGaSe$_2$ 임을 확인하였다.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.294-297
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• 2008

In this paper, a novel non-vacuum technique is described for the fabrication of a $CuInSe_2$ (CIS) absorber layer for thin film solar cells using a low-cost precursor solution. A solution containing Cu- and Inrelated chemicals was coated onto a Mo/glass substrate using the Doctor blade method and the precursor layer was then selenized in an evaporation chamber. The precursor layer was found to be composed of CuCl crystals and amorphous In compound, which were completely converted to chalcopyrite CIS phase by the selenization process. Morphological, crystallographic and compositional analyses were performed at each step of the fabrication process by SEM, XRD and EDS, respectively.

• 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.

• Current Photovoltaic Research
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.75-79
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• 2015

Recently, $Cu_2ZnSn(S_xSe_{1-x})_4$ (CZTSSe) has been received a tremendous attraction as light absorber material in thin film solar cells (TFSCs), because of its earth abundance, inexpensive and non-toxic constituents and versatile material characteristics. Kesterite CZTSSe thin films were synthesized by sulfo-selenization of sputtered Cu/Sn/Zn stacked metallic precursors. The sulfo-selenization of Cu/Sn/Zn stacked metallic precursor thin films has been carried out in a graphite box using rapid thermal annealing (RTA) technique. Annealing process was done under sulfur and selenium vapor pressure using Ar gas at $520^{\circ}C$ for 10 min. The effect of tuning Se/(S+Se) precursor composition ratio on the properties of CZTSSe films has been investigated. The XRD, Raman, FE-SEM and XRF results indicate that the properties of sulfo-selenized CZTSSe thin films strongly depends on the Se/(S+Se) composition ratio. In particular, the CZTSSe TFSCs with Se/(S+Se) = 0.37 exhibits the best power conversion efficiency of 4.83% with $V_{oc}$ of 467 mV, $J_{sc}$ of $18.962mA/cm^2$ and FF of 54%. The systematic changes observed with increasing Se/(S+Se) ratio have been discussed in detail.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2006.12a
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• pp.119-122
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• 2006

Process variables for manufacturing the $CuInSe_2$ thin film were established in order to clarify optimum conditions for growth of the thin film depending upon process conditions (substrate temperature, sputtering pressure, DC/RF Power), and then by changing a number of vapor deposition conditions and Annealing conditions variously, structural and electrical characteristics were measured. Thereby, optimum process variables were derived. For the manufacture of the $CuInSe_2$, Cu, In and Se were vapor-deposited in the named order. Among them, Cu and In were vapor-deposited by using the sputtering method in consideration of their adhesive force to the substrate, and the DC/RF power was controlled so that the composition of Cu and In might be 1:1, while the surface temperature having an effect on the quality of the thin film was changed from 100[$^{\circ}C$] to 300[$^{\circ}C$] at intervals of 50[$^{\circ}C$].