Transparent Conductive Oxide

ZnO is the most commonly used window layer material for solar cells with chalcopyrite absorbers. It is usually prepared by sputtering, a deposition method which is also used in industrial production of thin-film coatings. In Heterogeneous Material Systems we offer the preparation of high performance, standard ZnO films as a service to the scientists working on the development of absorber or buffer layers. One aspect of our research on transparent conductive oxide (TCO) concerns the question whether an efficient solar cell could also be prepared without any buffer layer. This would require a TCO which matches the surface properties of the absorber (e.g., in terms of band alignment). Results suggest that (Zn,Mg)O could be such a material.

ZnO sputter system