2005 Ohio Student Research Forum

Abstract

Other Trace Elements During CdS/CdTe Deposition
Sheriff Ceesay
University of Toledo, Electrical Engineering
Mentor: Dr. A.D. Compaan

In the development of thin film relative to solar technology, Spectrography becomes very important in determining efficiency of solar cells. One way Spectrography can be used is for elemental identification. Since Spectrography allows us to use light given off by different elements at different wavelengths of light to identify an element. In thin film application in relation to solar technology, Spectrography can be used during a process called deposition. Deposition applies to the use of sputtering an elemental target, CdTe for example. During this process a thin layer of the element from the target is place on to a surface of glass/substrate. However another event occurs during deposition, light is given off during the process of sputtering caused by ionization of gasses during deposition. All this occurs inside of a sealed vacuum environment called a Sputter Deposition Chamber. To obtain our data for Spectroscopic analysis, we ensure that we can acquire light from the sputter chamber. Most likely the sputter chamber has a glass window allowing easy viewing of the process of sputtering. While deposition occurs, light emitted from the Sputter Chamber is used for spectroscopic analysis. With Spectrography we can find elements that are present within the thin film solar cell. To ensure the elements that we find are indeed what they are, we use a common reference NIST (National Institute of Standard and Technology). We used NIST in finding the type of elements present within layers of thin film solar cells. Spectrography gives an insight of how efficiency is affected within a solar cell, by telling us what contaminants exist within it.