High-Rate and Low-Temperature Fabrication of Cu(In,Ga)Se₂ Solar Cells Using AgBr Induced Recrystallization

We present results demonstrating a three-stage, high-rate, low-temperature deposition process for Cu(In,Ga)Se ₂ solar cells including a recrystallization step after the second stage, catalyzed by AgBr. The entire deposition and recrystallization process takes place below 450 °C in less than 15 min. Device results with efficiencies exceeding 16% are shown. We achieve very high levels of grain growth and a greater than a 5% absolute increase in device performance because of the recrystallization step relative to an identical process not involving AgBr.