Formation of the physical vapor deposited CdS/Cu(In,Ga)Se2 interface in highly efficient thin film solar cells

We report on the buffer/absorber interface formation in highly efficient (14.5%, air mass 1.5) ZnO/CdS/Cu(In,Ga)Se-2 solar cells with a physical vapor deposited CdS buffer. For Se-decapped Cu(In,Ga)Se-2 (CIGSe) absorbers we observe sulfur passivation of the CIGSe grain boundaries during CdS growth and at the interface a thermally stimulated formation of a region with a higher band gap than that of the absorber bulk, determining the height of the potential barrier at the CdS/CIGSe interface. For air-exposed CIGSe samples the grain boundary passivation is impeded by a native oxide/adsorbate layer at the CIGSe surface determining the thermal stability of the potential barrier height. (c) 2006 American Institute of Physics.