Investigation of some transparent metal oxides as damp heat protective coating for CIGS solar cells

F. J. Pern; F. Yan; K. Zaunbrecher; B. To; J. Perkins; R. Noufi

doi:10.1117/12.930539

16 October 2012 Investigation of some transparent metal oxides as damp heat protective coating for CIGS solar cells

F. J. Pern, F. Yan, K. Zaunbrecher, B. To, J. Perkins, R. Noufi

Proceedings Volume 8472, Reliability of Photovoltaic Cells, Modules, Components, and Systems V; 84720I (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.930539
Event: SPIE Solar Energy + Technology, 2012, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

We investigated the protective effectiveness of some transparent metal oxides (TMO) on CIGS solar cell coupons against damp heat (DH) exposure at 85°C and 85% relative humidity (RH). Sputter-deposited bilayer ZnO (BZO) with up to 0.5- μm Al-doped ZnO (AZO) layer and 0.2-μm bilayer InZnO were used as “inherent” part of device structure on CdS/CIGS/Mo/SLG. Sputter-deposited 0.2-μm ZnSnO and atomic layer deposited (ALD) 0.1-μm Al₂O₃ were used as overcoat on typical BZO/CdS/CIGS/Mo/SLG solar cells. The results were all negative — all TMO-coated CIGS cells exhibited substantial degradation in DH. Combining the optical photographs, PL and EL imaging, SEM surface micromorphology, coupled with XRD, I-V and QE measurements, the causes of the device degradations are attributed to hydrolytic corrosion, flaking, micro-cracking, and delamination induced by the DH moisture. Mechanical stress and decrease in crystallinity (grain size effect) could be additional degrading factors for thicker AZO grown on CdS/CIGS.

Citation Download Citation

F. J. Pern, F. Yan, K. Zaunbrecher, B. To, J. Perkins, and R. Noufi "Investigation of some transparent metal oxides as damp heat protective coating for CIGS solar cells", Proc. SPIE 8472, Reliability of Photovoltaic Cells, Modules, Components, and Systems V, 84720I (16 October 2012); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.930539

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