Electron-beam-induced current at absorber back surfaces of Cu(In,Ga)Se2 thin-film solar cells

The present work reports on investigations of the influence of the microstructure on electronic properties of Cu(In,Ga)Se-2 (CIGSe) thin-film solar cells. For this purpose, ZnO/CdS/CIGSe stacks of these solar cells were lifted off the Mo-coated glass substrates. The exposed CIGSe backsides of these stacks were investigated by means of electron-beam-induced current (EBIC) and cathodoluminescence (CL) measurements as well as by electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD). EBIC and CL profiles across grain boundaries (GBs), which were identified by EBSD, do not show any significant changes at Sigma 3 GBs. Across non-Sigma 3 GBs, on the other hand, the CL signals exhibit local minima with varying peak values, while by means of EBIC, decreased and also increased short-circuit current values are measured. Overall, EBIC and CL signals change across non-Sigma 3 GBs always differently. This complex situation was found in various CIGSe thin films with different [Ga]/([In]+[Ga]) and [Cu]/([In]+[Ga]) ratios. A part of the EBIC profiles exhibiting reduced signals across non-Sigma 3 GBs can be approximated by a simple model based on diffusion of generated charge carriers to the GBs. (C) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC.