Characterization of Cd 1−x Zn x S buffer layers deposited by CBD for CIGS solar cell application

Alternative materials are of interest for the fabrication of thin film solar cells since they could offer potential enhancements for high efficiency devices. Cd1-xZnxS is such a material. In this preliminary study, structural and optical properties of films deposited by chemical bath deposition (CBD) for the two main compositions, ZnS and CdS, were studied. More specifically, ex-situ measurements by spectroscopic ellipsometry were performed, allowing for the analysis of the dielectric functions. GIXRD measurements were also used to assess the crystal structure for both films, indicating mixed phases for CdS, versus a single phase for ZnS, with larger grains for the CdS films.