IT IS PROPOSED TO INVESTIGATE CHEMICAL BATH DEPOSITION (CBD) FOR FABRICATION OF CU-IN-SE(2) THIN FILMS AND N-CDS/P-CU-IN-SE(2) HETEROJUNCTION THIN FILM SOLAR CELLS.

IT IS PROPOSED TO INVESTIGATE CHEMICAL BATH DEPOSITION (CBD) FOR FABRICATION OF CU-IN-SE(2) THIN FILMS AND N-CDS/P-CU-IN-SE(2) HETEROJUNCTION THIN FILM SOLAR CELLS. THE CBD METHOD REQUIRES NO HIGH VACUUM, AND IS FUNDAMENTALLYA "LOW TECHNOLOGY" PROCESS REQUIRING MINIMAL CAPITAL EXPENDITURE. THE TECHNIQUE HAS BEEN DEMONSTRATED AT EIC LABORATORIES FOR DEPOSITING CDSE FILMS WITH MORPHOLOGICAL AND PHOTOVOLTAIC PROPERTIES EQUIVALENT TO THE BEST AVAILABLEVACUUM DEPOSITED MATERIAL. PHASE I RESEARCH (6 MONTHS) WILLENTAIL DEVELOPMENT AND OPTIMIZATION OF A CHEMICAL BATH COMPOSITION FOR CU-IN-SE(2), IN WHICH THE TERNARY PRECIPITATES STOICHIOMETRICALLY ONTO CATALYTIC SURFACES IMMERSED IN THE BATH. THE BATH WILL CONSIST OF COMPLEXES OF CU+2 OR CU+1 AND IN+3 ALONG WITH NA(2)SESO(3), FROM WHICHFREE SE(-2) IS SLOWLY GENERATED BY BASE CATALYZED HYDROLYSISAT SURFACES. PHASE II (24 MONTHS) WILL CONCENTRATE ON DEVELOPMENT OF CBD P-CU-IN-SE(2) PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS, INCLUDING OPTIMIZATION OF FILM MORPHOLOGY AMD TRANSPORT PROPERTIES THROUGH VARIABLES OF THE DEPOSITION PROCESS, CBD OF N-CDS (ALREADY DEMONSTRATED) AND N-CDS/P-CU-IN-SE(2) BILAYERS, DEVELOPMENT OF FRONT AND BACK ELECTRODE CONTACTS, AND PHOTOVOLTAIC TESTING.