Title: Powder materials and technologies for solar cells

Authors: E. Mellikov, J. Hiie, M. Altosaar

Addresses: Tallinn University of Technology, Ehitajate tee 5, Tallinn 19086, Estonia. ' Tallinn University of Technology, Ehitajate tee 5, Tallinn 19086, Estonia. ' Tallinn University of Technology, Ehitajate tee 5, Tallinn 19086, Estonia

Abstract: The regularities of recrystallisation of initial powders of cadmium and zinc chalcogenides and chalcopyrites in different molten fluxes are studied. It is shown that the capillary phenomena in the solid–liquid phase boundary, wetting of the solid phase with the liquid flux phase are the processes that determine the mechanism of recrystallisation. Results indicate to the possibility of manufacturing of powders of complicate semiconductor materials in monograin form and with qualities acceptable for Monograin Layer (MGL) design of solar cells. Influence of several technological processes to parameters of monograin powders and MGL solar cells are studied.

Keywords: metal powders; cadmium chalcogenides; zinc chalcogenides; cadmium chalcopyrites; solar cells; zinc chalcopyrites; molten fluxes; recrystallisation; mechanism; kinetics; monograin layers; MGL; solar cell structures; powder materials; semiconductor materials.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMPT.2007.013082

International Journal of Materials and Product Technology, 2007 Vol.28 No.3/4, pp.291 - 311

Published online: 07 Apr 2007 *

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