Characterization of chemical bath deposited buffer layers for thin film solar cell applications

Cadmium sulfide (CdS), indium sulfide (In2S3) and zinc sulfide (ZnS) thin films have been deposited by chemical bath deposition (CBD) for buffer layer applications in Cu-chalcopyrite-based thin film solar cells. Films were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), UV-Vis transmission, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), grazing-incidence X-ray diffraction (GIXRD), and spectroscopic ellipsometry. Results indicate CdS can be deposited with low oxygen content and high light transmission over 245-1700 nm. CBD-ZnS and CBD-InS both exhibit 5-10% less light transmission than CdS in the same thickness range. In terms of light transmission and degree of impurities CdS appears to be a better buffer material than CBD-ZnS or CBD-InS. (C) 2010 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim