Spectral Response and Efficiency Relations in Semiconductor Liquid Junction Solar Cells

You are not logged in. Log in

States due to imperfections at or near surfaces of semiconductors in liquidjunction solar cells can be identified by changes in the photoresponse spectraunder short-circuit current conditions. These effects become dominant featuresin two-beam experiments with an intense pumping (laser) source and aweak modulated probing beam. The presence of these states can be correlatedwith drastic decreases in short-circuit currents, open-circuit voltages, fillfactors, and maximum power conversion efficiencies of the cells. Eliminationof the damaged surface regions by suitable etching allows AM2 solar conversionefficiencies of 1.3 and 7.2%, respectively, in the cells n-CdS/0.1F Na₂S-0.02F S-0.1F NaOH/C and n-CdSe/1F Na₂S-1F S-1F NaOH/C.

©1977 The Electrochemical Society, Inc.