Abstract
An in situ nonequilibrium method to increase hole density in polycrystalline CdTe thin films to 1016 cm−3 using group V substitution on Te is presented. Single-phase CdTe films doped with P, As, and Sb were deposited at 550 °C at 100–200 nm/s onto moving cadmium sulfide/high resistance transparent buffer layer/transparent conductive oxide /glass superstrates by vapor transport deposition in Cd overpressure from high purity compound sources. Doping levels before and after activation were determined by capacitance-voltage analysis of diagnostic devices. Secondary ion mass spectrometry depth profiling confirmed dopant incorporation levels of 1017–1018 atoms/cm3 in as-deposited films. Electronic activation was carried out by post-deposition annealing in Cd or CdCl2 vapor with fast cooling, increasing acceptor concentrations to >1015 cm−3 for P and >1016 cm−3 for As and Sb, compared with mid −1014 cm−3 acceptor levels for undoped CdTe films. The activation methods are compatible with post-deposition processing presently used for high-efficiency CdTe solar cells. For the dopants As and Sb, the acceptor concentration increased by substitutional AsTe and SbTe formation, respectively, which was validated by cathodoluminescence spectroscopy.
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