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Spray-ion layer gas reaction (ILGAR) - A novel low-cost process for the deposition of chalcopyrite layers up to the micrometer range for photovoltaic applications

Journal of Physical Chemistry B, ISSN: 1520-6106, Vol: 107, Issue: 30, Page: 7516-7521
2003
  • 23
    Citations
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    Usage
  • 27
    Captures
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Metric Options:   Counts1 Year3 Year

Metrics Details

  • Citations
    23
    • Citation Indexes
      23
  • Captures
    27

Article Description

A novel variant of the ion layer gas reaction (ILGAR) process is described. Up to now, only layers with a maximum thickness of about 100 nm could be deposited by ILGAR in a reasonable time. Replacing of dipping by spraying on a warm substrate accelerated the application of the precursor solution (e.g., metal chloride in water) by a factor of at least 100. For multinary products, all precursors are applied either simultaneously as a mixed solution or sequentially. In intervals, the spraying is stopped and the reaction gas HS is allowed to flow over the substrate. A special, yet simple setup is shown, which allows also a recycling of unconverted precursor. In about an hour time, a micrometer thick layer of mixed or stacked CuS/InS/(GaS) (from CuCl, InCl and in some cases GaCl, respectively) is deposited. The latter is converted to CuInS (CIS) or Cu(In,Ga)S (CIGS) by annealing in HS/Ar at 550 °C. The thermodynamically stable product distribution for this process is calculated. The influence of the process parameters, substrate temperature during precursor deposition, annealing temperature, CuCl/InCl ratio and gallium addition, is studied. The layers are used as absorbers in chalcopyrite thin film solar devices. The grain size necessary for this purpose is already sufficient (ca. 0.5-0.7 μm diameter). First solar cells based on spray-ILGAR-CIS and -CIGS have been prepared and compared. The efficiency has already reached 3.4%. An unusual layer morphology is obtained when the substrate temperature is too high (>90 °C). In this case, the layer consists of ideal hollow spheres with a hole in them. An explanation for this phenomenon is given.

Bibliographic Details

Christian Herbert Fischer; Hans Jürgen Muffler; Marcus Bär; Timo Kropp; Antje Schönmann; Sebastian Fiechter; Ghassan Barbar; Martha Christina Lux-Steiner

American Chemical Society (ACS)

Chemistry; Materials Science

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