Effect of 8 MeV electron irradiation on the performance of CSS grown CdTe/CdS solar cells

Abstract

The results of investigations carried out on the effect of electron irradiation on the electrical properties of CdTe/CdS solar cells prepared by close spaced sublimation (CSS) are presented in this paper. The solar cells were characterized using current–voltage (I–V) measurements under dark and air mass (AM) 1.5 illumination conditions. They were also characterized by capacitance measurements at various frequencies. The cells were exposed to graded doses of electrons up to 100 kGy. The effect of electron irradiation on the solar cell parameters such as short circuit current (Isc), open circuit voltage (Voc), fill factor (FF), conversion efficiency (η), saturation current (Io) and ideality factor (n) were studied. Only small changes in the cell parameters were observed after electron irradiation. Since the observed changes in the cell parameters were not remarkable up to an electron dose of 100 kGy, CdTe/CdS solar cells seem to be stable under electron irradiation.