Publication Type
Journal
Journal Name
Physical Review Letters
Publication Date
Page Number
156103
Volume
112
Issue
15
Abstract
The atomic structure and composition of grain boundaries in CdCl2 treated CdTe solar cells have been determined with aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy and electron energy loss spectroscopy. A high fraction of Te in the grain boundary regions has been substituted by Cl. Density functional calculations reveal the origin of such segregation levels, and further indicate the GBs are likely inverted to n-type, establishing local P-N junctions, which help to separate electron-hole carriers. The results are in good agreement with electron beam induced current observations of high collection efficiency at grain boundaries.
