Preparation and Photovoltaic Properties of Screen Printed CdS/CuxS Solar Cells

CdS/Cu x S solar cells were prepared by using a screen printing method. A low resistivity CdS film was obtained by screen printing CdS pasts on a glass substrate and then sintering it in N 2 gas including a small amount of Cd vapor. A Cu x S layer was formed on the surface of a CdS film by treating the surface electrochemically in an aqueous solution of CuSO 4 . An Ag paint electrode or Ni paint electrode was applied to the Cu x S layer, which was then heat treated in N 2 gas. The spectral responses of the cell suggest that the composition of the Cu x S layer was changed to the Cu 2 S-rich side by this heat treatment. Fabrication of a low resistivity CdS film and heat treatment in N 2 gas after applying electrodes were very important factors in obtaining a high efficiency cell. A maximum efficiency of 8.9% was attained for a cell with an active area of 0.90 cm 2 . The stability of the cell was found to be influenced by the electrode material on the Cu x S layer.