A photovoltaic cell can include a dopant in contact with a semiconductor layer.

A photovoltaic cell can include a dopant in contact with a semiconductor layer.

A method for annealing an absorber layer is disclosed, the method including contacting a surface of the absorber layer with an annealing material provided as a gel. The annealing material comprises cadmium chloride and a thickening agent. A viscosity of the gel of the annealing material is greater than or equal to 5 millipascal seconds.

A method of making a photovoltaic cell includes providing a metal oxide substrate. The substrate is at least translucent to light. The substrate is directed through a deposition chamber. A semiconductor is deposited over a first major surface of the substrate. The semiconductor includes a polycrystalline p-type layer. The semiconductor is exposed to a chlorine-containing compound or a chlorine molecule. A second electrode layer is provided over the semiconductor.

According to the embodiments provided herein, a method for doping an absorber layer can include contacting the absorber layer with an annealing compound. The annealing compound can include cadmium chloride and a group V salt comprising an anion and a cation. The anion, the cation, or both can include a group V element. The method can include annealing the absorber layer, whereby the absorber layer is doped with at least a portion of the group V element of the annealing compound.

Disclosed are methods for the surface cleaning and passivation of PV absorbers, such as CdTe substrates usable in solar cells, and devices made by such methods. In some embodiments, the method involves an anode layer ion source (ALIS) plasma discharge process to clean and oxidize a CdTe surface to produce a thin oxide layer between the CdTe layer and subsequent back contact layer(s).

Disclosed are methods for the surface cleaning and passivation of PV absorbers, such as CdTe substrates usable in solar cells, and devices made by such methods. In some embodiments, the method involves an anode layer ion source (ALIS) plasma discharge process to clean and oxidize a CdTe surface to produce a thin oxide layer between the CdTe layer and subsequent back contact layer(s).

A layer structure for a photovoltaic device comprising: a transparent conductive oxide layer comprising indium tin oxide (20); a layer of tin dioxide (30) adjacent to the indium tin oxide of the transparent conductive oxide layer; and a layer of zinc magnesium oxide (40) adjacent to the layer of tin dioxide, wherein the layer of zinc magnesium oxide is an alloy of zinc oxide and magnesium oxide. A photovoltaic device comprising: a transparent conductive oxide layer comprising indium tin oxide; a layer of tin dioxide disposed on the indium tin oxide of the transparent conductive oxide layer; a layer of zinc magnesium oxide adjacent to the layer of tin dioxide, wherein the layer of zinc magnesium oxide is an alloy of zinc oxide and magnesium oxide; and an absorber layer disposed on the layer of zinc magnesium oxide, wherein the absorber layer comprises cadmium, tellurium, selenium, or any combination thereof.

A photovoltaic cell can include a dopant in contact with a semiconductor layer.

A photovoltaic cell can include a dopant in contact with a semiconductor layer.