Tin dioxide as an alternative window layer for improving the damp-heat stability of copper indium gallium diselenide solar cells

The authors demonstrate a new copper indium gallium diselenide solar cell architecture by replacing the ZnO in the traditional design with SnO2. The open circuit voltages and efficiencies of the solar cells made with ZnO and SnO2 were the same indicating favorable band alignment. The solar cells made with SnO2 showed significantly better damp-heat stability than those made with ZnO. The efficiency of solar cells made with SnO2 decreased less than 5% after 120 h at 85 degrees C and 85% relative humidity while the efficiency of solar cells made with ZnO declined by more than 70%. (C) 2012 American Vacuum Society. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1116/1.3692225]