Fabrication of Cu(In,Ga)Se2 Thin Film by Selenization of Stacked Elemental Layer with Solid Selenium

2019 ◽  
Vol 41 (4) ◽  
pp. 241-246 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhao-Hui Li ◽  
Eou-Sik Cho ◽  
Sang Jik Kwon ◽  
Mario Dagenais
Keyword(s):  
Thin Film ◽  
Elemental Layer

Properties of Ag Doped CdTe Thin Film Prepared by Stacked Elemental Layer (SEL) Method

2012 ◽  
Vol 488-489 ◽  
pp. 742-747
Author(s):  
Subramani Shanmugan ◽  
Devarajan Mutharasu ◽  
Hassan Zainuriah
Keyword(s):  
Thin Film ◽  
Thin Films ◽  
Surface Roughness ◽  
Transition Metals ◽  
Grain Growth ◽  
Cubic Phase ◽  
Light Sources ◽  
Cdte Thin Film ◽  
Elemental Layer

Thin films of elements (Cd,Te,Ag) were layered as a stack (Te/Cd/Te/Ag/Cd) for doping process with different Ag and Cd thickness by SEL method. The XRD results were depicted the presence of Cubic phase CdTe with (111) orientation along with Ag2Te, CdAgTe, AgTe phases. The peaks related to Ag atom at higher concentration evinced the presence of non-reacted Ag atoms on the surface with higher Ag concentration. The observed results showed the growth of CdTe crystals in (111) orientation with high Ag concentration. The AFM results of the annealed stack were clearly indicated the influence of Ag concentration in grain growth as well as surface roughness. Photo-resistivity studies of the annealed stacks also revealed the effect of Ag concentration in reducing the resistance with difference light sources. The observed results suggested that the SEL method could be used for effective doping of transition metals to achieve desired properties.

Advanced Stacked Elemental Layer Process for Cu(InGa)Se2 Thin Film Photovoltaic Devices

1996 ◽  
Vol 426 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Probst ◽  
F. Karg ◽  
J. Rimmasch ◽  
W. Riedl ◽  
W. Stetter ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Thin Film ◽  
Reaction Pathway ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Soda Lime ◽  
Soda Lime Glass ◽  
Large Area ◽  
Flux Agent ◽  
Soda Lime Glass Substrate ◽  
Experimental Findings ◽  
Elemental Layer

AbstractTargeting large area and low cost processing of highly efficient thin film solar modules an advanced stacked elemental layer process for Cu(InGa)Se2 (CIGS) thin films is presented. Key process steps are i) barrier coating of the soda lime glass substrate combined with the addition of a sodium compound to the elemental Cu/In/Ga/Se-precursor stack and ii) rapid thermal processing (RTP) to form the CIGS compound.By this strategy exact impurity control is achieved and the advantageous influence of sodium on device performance and on CIGS film formation is demonstrated unambiguously by means of electrical characterisation, XRD, SEM, TEM and SIMS. Sodium enriched and sodium free precursor stacks were heated to intermediate states (300°C–500°C) of the RTPreaction process. The experiment clearly reveals that on the reaction pathway to the chalcopyrite semiconductor increased amounts of copper-selenide are formed, if sodium is added to the precursor films. TEM-electron diffraction unambiguously identifies the CuSe-phase which is localised at the surface of the forming CIGS-film. These experimental findings propose a sodium assisted quasi liquid growth model for the CIS formation taking into account that sodium promotes the existence of CuSe at higher temperatures and its effect as a flux agent. The model contributes to a better understanding of the observed superior crystal qualitiy for sodium enriched in contrast to sodium free CIGS films.Application of these experimental findings in the technique of the optimized and controlled sodium incorporation significantly improves process reproducibility, CIGS film homogenity over larger substrate areas and shifts the average efficiency of cells and modules to a significantly higher level. This is demonstrated by a 12-cell integrated series connected minimodule with an aperture area of 51 cm2 and a confirmed efficiency of 11.75 %.

Clean Electron Microscope Substrate Films Used for Micrometeorite Collection and Study

1967 ◽  
Vol 25 ◽  
pp. 366-367
Author(s):  
D. M. Davies ◽  
R. Kemner ◽  
E. F. Fullam
Keyword(s):  
Thin Film ◽  
Electron Microscope ◽  
High Altitude ◽  
Amyl Acetate ◽  
Temperature Variations ◽  
Film Forming ◽  
Film Specimen ◽  
Particulate Contaminants

All serious electron microscopists at one time or another have been concerned with the cleanliness and freedom from artifacts of thin film specimen support substrates. This is particularly important where there are relatively few particles of a sample to be found for study, as in the case of micrometeorite collections. For the deposition of such celestial garbage through the use of balloons, rockets, and aircraft, the thin film substrates must have not only all the attributes necessary for use in the electron microscope, but also be able to withstand rather wide temperature variations at high altitude, vibration and shock inherent in the collection vehicle's operation and occasionally an unscheduled violent landing.Nitrocellulose has been selected as a film forming material that meets these requirements yet lends itself to a relatively simple clean-up procedure to remove particulate contaminants. A 1% nitrocellulose solution is prepared by dissolving “Parlodion” in redistilled amyl acetate from which all moisture has been removed.

Microtomy of spherical Al2O3 powders

1983 ◽  
Vol 41 ◽  
pp. 74-75
Author(s):  
E.J. Jenkins ◽  
D.S. Tucker ◽  
J.J. Hren
Keyword(s):  
Thin Film ◽  
Size Range ◽  
Particle Aggregation ◽  
Ion Milling ◽  
Thin Sections ◽  
Α Phase ◽  
Convenient Means ◽  
Van Der Waals Attraction ◽  
Negative Feature ◽  
Film Substrate

The size range of mineral and ceramic particles of one to a few microns is awkward to prepare for examination by TEM. Electrons can be transmitted through smaller particles directly and larger particles can be thinned by crushing and dispersion onto a substrate or by embedding in a film followed by ion milling. Attempts at dispersion onto a thin film substrate often result in particle aggregation by van der Waals attraction. In the present work we studied 1-10 μm diameter Al2O3 spheres which were transformed from the amprphous state to the stable α phase.After the appropriate heat treatment, the spherical powders were embedded in as high a density as practicable in a hard EPON, and then microtomed into thin sections. There are several advantages to this method. Obviously, this is a rapid and convenient means to study the microstructure of serial slices. EDS, ELS, and diffraction studies are also considerably more informative. Furthermore, confidence in sampling reliability is considerably enhanced. The major negative feature is some distortion of the microstructure inherent to the microtoming operation; however, this appears to have been surprisingly small. The details of the method and some typical results follow.

Studies on Water in the Hydration Chamber of a Modified Electron Microscope

1970 ◽  
Vol 28 ◽  
pp. 544-545
Author(s):  
R. C. Moretz ◽  
G. G. Hausner ◽  
D. F. Parsons
Keyword(s):  
Thin Film ◽  
Thin Films ◽  
Electron Microscope ◽  
Steady State ◽  
Room Temperature ◽  
Small Mass ◽  
Equilibrium Pressure ◽  
Biological Objects ◽  
Mechanical Pump ◽  
Differential Pumping

Use of the electron microscope to examine wet objects is possible due to the small mass thickness of the equilibrium pressure of water vapor at room temperature. Previous attempts to examine hydrated biological objects and water itself used a chamber consisting of two small apertures sealed by two thin films. Extensive work in our laboratory showed that such films have an 80% failure rate when wet. Using the principle of differential pumping of the microscope column, we can use open apertures in place of thin film windows.Fig. 1 shows the modified Siemens la specimen chamber with the connections to the water supply and the auxiliary pumping station. A mechanical pump is connected to the vapor supply via a 100μ aperture to maintain steady-state conditions.

Imaging of platinum-shadowed macromolecular complexes in dark field

1984 ◽  
Vol 42 ◽  
pp. 146-147
Author(s):  
D.W. Andrews ◽  
F.P. Ottensmeyer
Keyword(s):  
Thin Film ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Average Diameter ◽  
Dark Field ◽  
Bright Field ◽  
Field Mode ◽  
Macromolecular Complexes ◽  
Average Mass ◽  
Topological Features ◽  
Projection Images

Shadowing with heavy metals has been used for many years to enhance the topological features of biological macromolecular complexes. The three dimensional features present in directionaly shadowed specimens often simplifies interpretation of projection images provided by other techniques. One difficulty with the method is the relatively large amount of metal used to achieve sufficient contrast in bright field images. Thick shadow films are undesirable because they decrease resolution due to an increased tendency for microcrystalline aggregates to form, because decoration artefacts become more severe and increased cap thickness makes estimation of dimensions more uncertain.The large increase in contrast provided by the dark field mode of imaging allows the use of shadow replicas with a much lower average mass thickness. To form the images in Fig. 1, latex spheres of 0.087 μ average diameter were unidirectionally shadowed with platinum carbon (Pt-C) and a thin film of carbon was indirectly evaporated on the specimen as a support.

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