Evaluation of Zn-Sn-O buffer layers for CuIn0.5Ga0.5Se2 solar cells

Thin Zn-Sn-O films are evaluated as new buffer layer material for Cu(In,Ga)Se-2-based solar cell devices. A maximum conversion efficiency of 13.8% (V-oc = 691 mV, J(sc)(QE) = 27.9 mA/cm(2), and FF = 71.6%) is reached for a solar cell using the Zn-Sn-O buffer layer which is comparable to the efficiency of 13.5% (V-oc - 706 mV, J(sc)(QE) - 26.3 mA/cm(2), and FF = 72.9%) for a cell using the standard reference CdS buffer layer. The open circuit voltage (V-oc) and the fill factor (FF) are found to increase with increasing tin content until an optimum in both parameters is reached for Sn/(Zn+Sn) values around 0.3-0.4. Copyright (C) 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.