The promising new generation of solar cells based on CIGS (Cu(I,Ga)Se2) exhibits behavior differing from that of earlier cells because of changes in the method of preparation, leading, among other things, to a difference in sodium content. A simple defect chemical model is presented for the effects of sodium on the surface chemistry and electronic properties of CIGS thin films. The model, based on the well-known catalytic effect that alkali metals have on surface oxidation of semiconductors, is shown to be consistent with the experimental data available in the literature.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Kronik et al. (1998) studied this question.