14.6% efficient thin-film cadmium telluride heterojunction solar cells

Thin-film CdS/CdTe heterojunction solar cells have been prepared by the successive deposition of thin films of fluorine-doped SnO/sub 2/, CdS, p-CdTe, and an ohmic contact on glass substrates, followed by the deposition of an antireflection coating. The properties of CdS/CdTe heterojunctions have been studied. Under global AM1.5 conditions, a solar cell of about 1 cm/sup 2/ area has an open-circuit voltage of 805+or-5 mV, a short-circuit current density of 24.4+or-0.3 mA/cm/sup 2/, and a fill factor of 70.5+or-0.5%, corresponding to a total area conversion efficiency of 14.6+or-0.3%, verified by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.<<ETX>>