• Journal of the Korean Solar Energy Society
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.77-85
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• 2017

Thin crystalline silicon (C-Si) solar cell is expected to be a low price energy source by decreasing the consumption of Si. However, thin c-Si solar cell entails the bowing and crack issues in high temperature manufacturing process. Thus, the conventional tabbing process, based on high temperature soldering (> $250^{\circ}C$), has difficulties for applying to thin c-Si solar cell modules. In this paper, a conductive paste (CP) based interconnection process has been proposed to fabricate thin c-Si solar cell modules with high production yield, instead of existing soldering materials. To optimize the process condition for CP based interconnection, we compared the performance and stability of modules fabricated under various lamination temperature (120, 150, and $175^{\circ}C$). The power from CP based module is similar to that with conventional tabbing process, as modules are fabricated. However, the output of CP based module laminated at $120^{\circ}C$ decreases significantly (14.1% for Damp heat and 6.1% for thermal cycle) in harsh condition, while the output drops only in 3% in the samples process at $150^{\circ}C$, $175^{\circ}C$. The peel test indicates that the unstable performance of sample laminated at $120^{\circ}C$ is attributed to weak adhesion strength (1.7 N) between cell and ribbon compared to other cases (2.7 N). As a result, optimized lamination temperature for CP based module process is $150^{\circ}C$, considering stability and energy consumption during the fabrication.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2013.02a
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• pp.405-406
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• 2013

Ga-doped ZnO (GZO)는 $300^{\circ}C$ 이상의 온도에서는 전기적으로 불안정하기 때문에 CIGS, CdTe, DSC와 같은 태양전지의 높은 공정온도 때문에 사용이 제한적이다. ZTO thin film은 Al2O3, SiO2, TiO2, ZnO tihin film과 비교하여 산소 및 수분에 대하여 투과성이 상대적으로 낮은 것으로 알려져 있다. 따라서 GZO single layer에 비하여 ZTO-GZO multi-layer를 구성하여 TCO를 제작하면, 높은 공정온도에서도 사용 가능하다. 실제 제작된 GZO single layer (300 nm)에서 비저항이 $7.69{\times}10^{-4}{\Omega}{\cdot}cm$에서 $500^{\circ}C$에서 열처리 후 $7.76{\times}10^{-2}{\Omega}{\cdot}cm$으로 급격하게 상승한다. ZTO single layer (420 nm)는 as-grown에서는 측정 불가했지만, $400^{\circ}C$에서 열처리 후 $3.52{\times}10^{-1}{\Omega}{\cdot}cm$ $500^{\circ}C$에서 열처리 후 $4.10{\times}10^{-1}{\Omega}{\cdot}cm$으로 열처리에 따른 큰 변화가 없다. 또한 ZTO-GZO multi-layer (720 nm)의 경우 비저항이 $2.11{\times}10^{-3}{\Omega}{\cdot}cm$에서 $500^{\circ}C$에서 열처리 후 $3.67{\times}10^{-3}{\Omega}{\cdot}cm$으로 GZO에 비하여 상대적으로 변화폭이 작다. 또한 ZTO의 두께에 따른 영향을 확인하기 위하여 ZTO를 2 scan, 4 scan, 6 scan 공정 진행 및 $500^{\circ}C$에서 열처리 후 ZTO, ZTO-GZO thin film의 비저항을 측정하였다. ZTO의 경우 $3.34{\times}10^{-1}{\Omega}{\cdot}cm$ (2 scan), $3.62{\times}10^{-1}{\Omega}{\cdot}cm$ (4 scan), $4.1{\times}10^{-1}{\Omega}{\cdot}cm$ (6 scan)으로 큰 차이가 없으며, ZTO-GZO에서도 $3.73{\times}10^{-3}{\Omega}{\cdot}cm$ (2 scan), $3.42{\times}10^{-3}{\Omega}{\cdot}cm$ (4 scan), $3.67{\times}10^{-3}{\Omega}{\cdot}cm$ (6 scan)으로 큰 차이가 없음을 확인하였다. 염료감응 태양전지에 적용하여 기존에 사용되는 FTO대신에 ZTO-GZO를 사용하며, 가격적 측면, 성능적 측면에서 개선 가능할 것으로 생각된다.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.203-208
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• 2014

In this study, Sputtering method was used to grow Al-dopes ZnO films on a CIGS absorber layer, in order to examine the effect of TCO on properties of CIGS solar cell devices. Structural, electrical and optical properties were investigated by varied thickness of Al-dopes ZnO films. Also, relation to the application as a window layer in CIGS thin film solar cell were studied. It was found that the electrical and structural properties of ZnO:Al film improved with increasing its thickness. However, the optical properties degraded. Jsc of the fabricated CIGS based solar cells was significantly influenced by the variation of the ZnO:Al window layer thickness. Because ZnO:Al window layer is one of the Rs factors in CIGS solar cell. Rs has the biggest influence on efficiency characteristic. In order to obtain high efficiency of CIGS solar cell, ZnO:Al window layer should be fabricated with electrically and optically optimized.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2008.11a
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• pp.103-104
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• 2008

In this paper we report upon an investigation into the effect of DC bias voltage on the electrical and optical properties of Gallium doped zinc oxide (GZO) film. GZO films were deposited on glass substrate without substrate temperature by RF magnetron sputtering from a ZnO target mixed with 5 wt% $Ga_2O_3$. we investigated sample properties of bias voltage change in 0 to -60 V. We were able to achieve as low as $5.89\times10^{-4}$ ${\Omega}cm$ and transmittance over 87%. without substrate temperature.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.373-376
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• 2009

In this paper we report upon an investigation into the effect of DC bias voltage on the electrical and optical properties of Gallium doped zinc oxide (GZO) film. GZO films were deposited on glass substrate without substrate temperature by RF magnetron sputtering from a ZnO target mixed with 5 wt% $Ga_{2}O_{3}$. we investigated sample properties of bias voltage change in 0 to -60 V. We were able to achieve as low as $5.89{\times}10^{-4}{\Omega}cm$ and transmittance over 88 %. without substrate heating.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Information and Commucation Sciences Conference
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• 2010.05a
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• pp.805-808
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• 2010

In this paper, CdS thin films, which were widey used window layer of the CdS/CdTe and the CdS/$CuInSe_2$ heterojunction solar cell, were grown by chemical bath deposition, and effects of temperature of reaction solution on the structural properties were investigated. Cadmium acetate and thiourea were used as cadmium and sulfur source, respectively. And ammonium acetate was used as the buffer solution. The reaction velocity was increased with increasing temerature of reaction solution. For temperature <= $85^{\circ}C$, as increasing temperature of solution, deposition rate of CdS films was increased by ion-by-ion reaction in the substrate surface, and the crystallinity of the films was improved. However, for temperature <= $55^{\circ}C$, deposition rate was decreased resulting from smaller Cd2+ ion, and the grain size was decreased.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.24 no.8
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• pp.434-442
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• 2014

Serious environmental problems have been caused by the greenhouse effect due to carbon dioxide($CO_2$) or nitrogen oxides($NO_x$) generated by the use of fossil fuels, including oil and liquefied natural gas. Many countries, including our own, the United States, those of the European Union and other developed countries around the world; have shown growing interest in clean energy, and have been concentrating on the development of new energy-saving materials and devices. Typical non-fossil-fuel sources include solar cells, wind power, tidal power, nuclear power, and fuel cells. In particular, organic solar cells(OSCs) have relatively low power-conversion efficiency(PCE) in comparison with inorganic(silicon) based solar cells, compound semiconductor solar cells and the CIGS [$Cu(In_{1-x}Ga_x)Se_2$] thin film solar cells. Recently, organic cell efficiencies greater than 10 % have been obtained by means of the development of new organic semiconducting materials, which feature improvements in crystalline properties, as well as in the quantum-dot nano-structure of the active layers. In this paper, a brief overview of solar cells in general is presented. In particular, the current development status of the next-generation OSCs including their operation principle, device-manufacturing processes, and improvements in the PCE are described.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.196-201
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• 2015

This paper presents the impact of partial shading on $CuIn_xGa_{(1-x)}Se_2(CIGS)$ photovoltaic(PV) modules with bypass diodes. When the CIGS PV modules were partially shaded, the modules were under conditions of partial reverse bias. We investigated the characterization of the bypass diode and solar cell properties of the CIGS PV modules when these was partially shaded, comparing the results with those for a crystalline silicon module. In crystalline silicon modules, the bypass diode was operated at a partial shade modules of 1.67 % shading. This protected the crystalline silicon module from hot spot damage. In CIGS thin film modules, on the other hand, the bypass diode was not operated before 20 % shading. This caused damage because of hotspots, which occurred as wormlike defects in the CIGS thin film module. Moreover, the bypass diode adapted to the CIGS thin film module was operated fully at 60% shading, while the CIGS thin film module was not operated under these conditions. It is known that the bypass diode adapted to the CIGS thin film module operated more slowly than that of the crystalline silicon module; this bypass diode also failed to protect the module from damage. This was because of the reverse saturation current of the CIGS thin film, $1.99{\times}10^{-5}A/cm^2$, which was higher than that of crystalline silicon, $8.11{\times}10^{-7}A/cm^2$.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.24 no.8
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• pp.616-621
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• 2011

In this paper, CdS thin films, which were widely used window layer of the CdTe and the Cu(In,Ga)$Se_2$ thin film solar cell, were grown by chemical bath deposition, and effects of pH of reaction solution on the structural and optical properties were investigated. For pH<10.5, as the pH of reaction solution was higher, the deposition rate of CdS films was increased by improving ion-by-ion reaction in the substrate surface and the crystallinity of the films was improved. However, when the pH was higher than 10.5, the deposition rate was decreased because of smaller $Cd^{2+}$ ion concentration in the reaction solution. Also, the crystallinity of the films were deteriorated. The CdS films deposited at lower pH showed poor optical transmittance due to adsorbed colloidal particles, while the transmittance was improved for higher pH.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.328-333
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• 2011

The influence of Al-doped ZnO (AZO) thin films degraded under high temperature and damp heat on the performance deterioration of Cu(In,Ga)$Se_2$ (CIGS) solar cells was investigated. CIGS solar cells with AZO/CdS/CIGS/Mo structure were prepared on glass substrate and exposed to high temperature ($85^{\circ}C$) and damp heat ($85^{\circ}C$/85% RH) for 1000 h. As-prepared CIGS solar cells had 64.91% in fill factor (FF) and 12.04% in conversion efficiency. After exposed to high temperature, CIGS solar cell had 59.14% in FF and 9.78% in efficiency, while after exposed to damp heat, it had 54.00% in FF and 8.78% in efficiency. AZO thin films in the deteriorated CIGS solar cells showed increases in resistivity up to 3.1 times and 4.4 times compared to their initial resistivity after 1000 h of high temperature and damp heat exposure, respectively. These results can be explained by the decreases in carrier concentration and mobility due to diffusion or adsorption of oxygen and moisture in AZO thin films. It can be inferred that decreases in FF and conversion efficiency were caused by an increase in series resistance, which resulted from an increase in resistivity of AZO thin films degraded under high temperature and damp heat.