CdS and CdTe thin films for solar cells

Rashad Hajimammadov

Baku State University, department of Physics

hajimammadov@hotmail.com

Energy sources

1) Unrenewable energy sources : Petroleum, gas, coal

2) Renewable energy sources : Solar energy, wind energy, hydro- energy

and etc.

3) Nuclear energy with its advantage and disadvantages

Using the sun to generate electricity

An increasingly popular use of solar energy involves solar electric systems, called photovoltaics

Photovoltaic (PV) systems convert sunlight directly into electricity, and are potentially one of the most useful of the renewable energy technologies.

What is solar cell ?

A structure that converts solar energy directly to DC electric energy. It supplies a voltage and a current to a resistive

load (light, battery, motor).

It is like a battery because it supplies DC power. It is not like a battery because the voltage

supplied by the cell changes with changes in the resistance of the load.

Groups of solar cells can be packaged into modules, panels and arrays to provide useful output voltages and currents to provide a specific power output.

House coated with solar panels

Using solar energy in satellite

Solar arrays in a field

Mobile solar module

Cost of solar cells and its efficiency

The current best deals on solar cells is about 2.5 - $4.30 per watt. For a 50 watt solar panel, your total cost will be about $215

GaAs and related compounds(A3B5) multilayer structure – 40 %

CIGS ~20 % CdTe based solar cells – 16.5 % Mono Si – 15 - 16 % Amorphous Si – 12 % polymer composite solar cells ~ 3 – 5 %

The aim of my research

Deposition of CdS and CdTe thin films

Choosing a perfect deposition method for improving cell characterization

CdS thin films

Deposition technique

Chemical components used in this method

AFM image of CdS film

CdTe thin films

Deposition technique

SEM image of CdTe film

Conventional polycrystalline CdTe-based thin film solar cell

Solar cell characterization Voc=773mV, Jsc=23.92mA/cm2, fill factor FF =68.7%, a

total area conversion efficiency of 12.71%

Conclusion

CdS and CdTe thin films were deposited.

The prepared solar cells exhibited 12.7 % efficiency.

Some questions

Are PV systems as efficient or economic as fossil-fueled systems?

Is PV a viable alternative for all of our power needs? For homes? For vehicles? For other needs?

Is PV the answer to all of the world’s power needs?

Publications

1. Naser M. Fathi, Rashad H. Hajimammadov, Ulvi R. Hasanov, Ayaz I. Bayramov “Problems of Use of Alternative Energy Sources In Turkmenistan, February 24,25 2010”

2. R. Hajimammadov, N.Fathi, M.Sadigov, E. Mirzoyev, A. Bayramov, G. Khrypunov, N. Klochko “17th International Conference on Ternary and Multinary Compounds, 27-30 September 2010, Baku”

3. R. Hajimammadov, N.Fathi, M.Sadigov, E. Mirzoyev, A. Bayramov, G. Khrypunov, N. Klochko “ Azerbaijan Journal of Physics” december 2010.

4. R. Hajimammadov, R. Mehdiyev. “ Conference on Physics and Astronomy” Baku, 20th May 2011

5. R. Hajimammadov, N.Fathi, M.Sadigov, E. Mirzoyev, A. Bayramov, G. Khrypunov, N. Klochko, Tatyana Li “Effect of CdCl2 treatment on CdTe based solar cells prepared by close space sublimation and physical vapor deposition method ” Japan Journal of Physics,

to be published

Thanks for attention