Efficiency improvement in thin-film solar cell devices with

oxygen-containing absorber later: Summary and analyses

The study entitled Efficiency improvement in thin-film solar

cell devices with oxygen-containing absorber later was conducted by three
researchers for the purpose of recognizing the results of introducing oxygen to
the CdTe absorber layer in a thin-film solar cell device. The research question
that is addressed by this study is what are the effects of introducing oxygen to
the CdTe absorber layer. The independent variable is oxygen, while the
dependent variables are device parameter which are voltage, current, fill factor,
efficiency. The study was an experimental research. The article started with
mentioning previous researches and its results that in somehow related to the
experiment.
The study designed using true experimental design in which two samples were
prepared to ensure the validity of the research. The study makes compression
between two models which is considered to be a necessary step in research
since there are many factors are influencing the system. Therefore, we need to
control the factors, especially, the one that the study examined which. h in this
case oxygen. One group is a control group, which did not expose to oxygen
introduction, and the other one is the system that witnessed introducing oxygen
in a CdTe absorber layer.
followed by SnO2 film. Then, CdS layer is grown by reactive supporting, next to
this step, CdTe is deposited in a CSS in which oxygen is introduced. Another
device is constructed without oxygen introduction for the purpose of
compression. To activate the devices, CdCI2 was used and finally they are back
contacted using Sb2Te3 supporting layers. Quantitative SIMS is used to measure
parameters in standard condition before depositing contact layer .
All parameters were enhanced after oxygen incorporation. The amount of O and
CI was recorded in both devices. CI concentration in in device with oxygen
introduction in dramatically higher than device without oxygen incorporation
which could be a result of oxygen incorporation. It is believed that O and/or CI
form an electrically active complex in CdTe absorber layer which improves
device efficiency, however, further studies need to address the mechanism of
device improvement.
Issue of bias did not appear to be addressed as well as the effects of other
factors in the system that might in somehow change the findings. I think that
there should be more explanation of the results and more details. . A suggested
research that could be conducted in the future is to investigate the relationship
between the amounts of oxygen introduced the CdTe absorber layer and to what
extent these parameters improve. Another suggestion for a future research is to
try to introduce other elements to the devices that share some properties with
oxygen and identifies the results after conducting the study. I think that this
study added value to the researches conducted in solar cells as its results

indicated that oxygen incorporation enhanced the properties of the cells

properties which might affects the capacity of the device to process more solar
energy. Another thing I want to add is that to have more reliable and relevant
data, the experiments should be conducted more than once .