Binary-Chalcogenides as Evaporation Source Material For Cu(In, Ga) (Se,S)2 Thin-Film Deposition

40524 November 12, 1996 Energy Photovoltaics, Inc. The compound In2Se3 has been proven as an effective evaporation source material for the formation of Cu(In,Ga)(Se,S)2 thin films, which yield high solar-cell efficiencies. Other binary chalcogenides in the In-Se, In-S, Ga-Se, and Ga-S compound families may prove effective as well. However, the commercial cost of these compounds is too high to allow their use in the economic manufacture of solar panels. This project will explore the formation of these compounds through microwave synthesis techniques. The use of these synthesized compounds as evaporation sources will be examined and applied toward the formation of high efficiency solar cells. Phase II will develop a microwave processing chamber for economical, high-throughput formation of the compounds, and apply the compounds to large-area, linear-source evaporation as a stage in module fabrication. Anticipated Results/Potential Commercial Applications as described by the awardee: The results should demonstrate the economic formation of source material for evaporation, as well as demonstrate the effective use of this material in fabricating solar panels with conversion efficiencies above 10%.