SBIR/STTR Phase II: Nanoparticle Te Inks for Spray Deposition of Submicron Te Contact Layers in CdTe Solar Cells

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase II project is aimed at making Photovoltaic (PV) solar electric power more affordable to our nation and to the world. The technology in this program, represents a new process for the manufacturing of cadmium Telluride (CdTe) solar cells. In this process the contact layers of copper-doped tellurium nanoparticles are sprayed on rather than sputtered, which promises to be a more efficient method of manufacturing. The successful CdTe solar cell prototype will be designed with input from potential end-users as a means of increasing the likelihood for commercialization. It is anticipated that this process will result in solar cells with superior initial and long-term efficiencies. Such improvements in performance could result in reduced costs for solar cell manufacturing ($/W), higher power during operation (kW-h/yr), and an extension of the useful lifetime - three aspects that will allow solar energy to be more competitive with existing methods for electric power production