Low temperature synthesis of CdTe and its application to CdS/CdTe solar cell

Abstract

It has been found that CdTe can be synthesized from a paste consisting of Cd powder, Te powder and propylene glycol (binder) in N2atmosphere at a temperature lower than 300°C. The reaction synthesizing CdTe from the paste begins at about 180°C. This method is also effective for lowering the sintering temperature of CdTe film. We can lower the sintering temperature of the CdTe film down 600°C. The new method of the CdTe synthesis is applied to the preparation of thin film CdS/CdTe solar cells with the screen-printing technique. The cell has an intrinsic conversion efficiency of 4.7%. © 1980 IOP Publishing Ltd.