Modulated photocurrent spectroscopy of CdTe/CdS solar cells-equivalent circuit analysis

Published

May 20, 2013

Author(s)

Behrang H. Hamadani, John F. Roller, Kounavis Panagiotis, Nikolai B. Zhitenev, David J. Gundlach

Abstract

We have used the technique of photocurrent modulated spectroscopy to investigate the dynamic response of charge carrier transport in thin film CdTe/CdS solar cells as a function of light bias and temperature over a broad excitation frequency range. The observed features of the data, including a photocurrent ‘phase-lead’ and a ‘phase-lag’ revealed over different regions of the frequency spectrum, were explored in the context of an equivalent circuit model incorporating a back-contact barrier that limits the photocurrent collection at the metal/semiconductor contact. Good agreement was observed between the data and the predictions of the model and point to charge carrier recombination at the back contact as the main source of photocurrent loss observed in these devices.

Citation

Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells

Volume

116

Pub Type

Journals

Download Paper

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solmat.2013.04.011

Keywords

solar cells, CdTe, thin films, photovoltaic, modulated photocurrent spectroscopy

Citation

Hamadani, B. , Roller, J. , Panagiotis, K. , Zhitenev, N. and Gundlach, D. (2013), Modulated photocurrent spectroscopy of CdTe/CdS solar cells-equivalent circuit analysis, Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, [online], https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solmat.2013.04.011 (Accessed October 10, 2025)