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Materials Used for General Radiation Detection
Published in Alan Owens, Semiconductor Radiation Detectors, 2019
CdTe is generally grown by the travelling heater method (THM). To achieve high resistivity (108–1010 Ω cm) THM grown crystals are sometimes doped with Cl to compensate for impurities. However, Cl doping can also introduce a number of other problems, namely polarization effects and long-term reliability issues. As a rule, CdTe is easier to produce in large quantities than CnZnTe, since the latter is invariably grown by the High Pressure Bridgman method. Large wafers of CdTe can be produced up to 50 mm in diameter without grain boundaries with good reproducibility and homogeneity. CdTe is currently used primarily in the manufacture of photovoltaics, particularly solar cells, nanoinks and nanorods. Other applications include electro-optical modulators, IR windows and photorefractive materials.
Background of the CdTe Solar Cell and the New Device Concept
Published in I. M. Dharmadasa, Advances in Thin-Film Solar Cells, 2018
Based on electronic and optoelectronic properties such as a nearideal direct bandgap of 1.45 eV for single bandgap p-n junctions, high absorption coefficient >104 cm−1 at 300 K and the ability to absorb all usable photons from the solar spectrum within a thickness <2 pm [4], CdTe has proved to be an excellent II-VI semiconductor material. CdTe-based solar cells have been well explored to develop low-cost and high-efficiency solar cells as an alternative to the present-day fossil fuel dependent energy sources which are harmful to the sustainability of our ecosystem.
Building Integrated Photovoltaic: Building Envelope Material and Power Generator for Energy-Efficient Buildings
Published in Amritanshu Shukla, Atul Sharma, Sustainability through Energy-Efficient Buildings, 2018
Karunesh Kant, Amritanshu Shukla, Atul Sharma
A CdTe solar cell is a compound made of cadmium and tellurium. CdTe solar cells are grown on a substrate as shown in Figure 6.8. Polyimide, metal foils, and glass are commonly used as the substrates. Their high efficiency, low cost, stability, and the potential for low-cost production make them suitable for large-area applications. The CdTe solar cell has high absorption coefficient and has shown laboratory efficiency as high as 16.5% (Lynn 2011) (Fthenakis 2004). The commercial module efficiency is the same as an a–Si solar cell, that is, 7%–9% (Agrawal and Tiwari 2011).
Future of photovoltaic materials with emphasis on resource availability, economic geology, criticality, and market size/growth
Published in CIM Journal, 2023
G. J. Simandl, S. Paradis, L. Simandl
Cadmium is a silver-white metal (Figure 4d) with atomic number 48. It is chemically similar to Zn and mercury (two adjacent metals within group 12 of the periodic table). It has an oxidation state of + 2 in most of its compounds. Because Cd is a nonbiodegradable toxic substance affecting almost all life forms (including humans), contamination of the environment during mining, extraction, recycling, or disposal of Cd-containing waste is a major environmental concern (Chellaiah, 2018; Suhani, Sahab, Srivastava, & Singh, 2021). Occupational safety and health aspects related to Cd are covered by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (2022b). As a relatively low-cost material (Table 1), Cd is used mainly for manufacturing Ni-Cd batteries. Other end uses include CdTe for thin-film solar cells (PVs), radiation-detecting imaging equipment, metal alloys, anticorrosive coatings, stabilizing of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and pigments (Callaghan, 2022).
A comprehensive review of different types of solar photovoltaic cells and their applications
Published in International Journal of Ambient Energy, 2021
Neelam Rathore, Narayan Lal Panwar, Fatiha Yettou, Amor Gama
From the economical point of view, CdTe is one of the important type among thin-film solar cells which is less expensive and economically feasible also (Bertolli 2008; Goswami and Kreith 2007). The p–n junction diode is formed between layers of cadmium sulphide. The manufacturing process is as follows: firstly, the CdTe-based solar cells are synthesised from polycrystalline materials and glass is chosen as a substrate. Secondly, deposition is done, i.e. using different economical methods the multiple layers of CdTe solar cells are coated onto the substrate. Its efficiency usually lies in the range between 9.5% and 11% (Bertolli 2008; Badawy 2015). But due to the toxic nature of cadmium which can accumulate in human bodies, animals as well as plants, it creates numerous environmental problems. Further recycling and disposal of toxic Cd are also damaging to our environment (Bagher, Vahid, and Mohsen 2015).
Electrical and optical properties of Sb-doped Cu2Se thin films deposited by chemical bath deposition
Published in Phase Transitions, 2020
J. Henry, T. Daniel, V. Balasubramanian, K. Mohanraj, G. Sivakumar
In recent years the transition-metal chalcogenides have gained tremendous interest due to their potential application in solar cell, thermoelectric power converter, optical filters, etc [1–4]. CdS and CdTe are mostly used for solar cell applications and optical devices and show higher efficiency; however, the toxicity of these material limits their use in practical and industrial uses. During the past decades, copper selenide (Cu2Se) has attained a major role in photovoltaic applications [2,3] due to its wide band gap ranging from 1.2 to 2.3 eV [1,3]. Cu2Se is a p-type semiconductor. Govindraju et al., [5] employed Cu2Se nanoparticles in hybrid solarcells and obtained 1.02% photoconversion efficiency (PCE) [5]. Eskandari and Ahmadi [6] used Cu2Se as a counter electrode for quantum dot-sensitized solar cells (QDSSCs) and obtained 2.28% PCE [6]. The obtained efficiency is very low for commercial application; hence it is necessary to improve it. This can be done by tuning the optical properties of the Cu2Se by doping.