A comprehensive review of flexible cadmium telluride solar cells with back surface field layer
Nur Irwany Ahmad,
Yap Boon Kar,
Camellia Doroody,
Tiong Sieh Kiong,
Kazi Sajedur Rahman,
Muhammad Najib Harif,
Nowshad Amin
Affiliations
Nur Irwany Ahmad
College of Engineering, Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN @The Energy University), Putrajaya Campus, Jalan IKRAM-UNITEN, 43000, Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia; Faculty of Electrical Engineering & Technology, Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP), Arau 02600, Perlis, Malaysia
Yap Boon Kar
College of Engineering, Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN @The Energy University), Putrajaya Campus, Jalan IKRAM-UNITEN, 43000, Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia; Institute of Sustainable Energy (ISE), University Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN @The Energy University), Putrajaya Campus, Jalan IKRAM-UNITEN, 43000, Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia; Corresponding author. Institute of Sustainable Energy (ISE), University Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN @The Energy University), Putrajaya Campus, Jalan IKRAM-UNITEN, 43000, Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia.
Camellia Doroody
College of Engineering, Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN @The Energy University), Putrajaya Campus, Jalan IKRAM-UNITEN, 43000, Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia; Institute of Sustainable Energy (ISE), University Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN @The Energy University), Putrajaya Campus, Jalan IKRAM-UNITEN, 43000, Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia; Corresponding author. Institute of Sustainable Energy (ISE), University Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN @The Energy University), Putrajaya Campus, Jalan IKRAM-UNITEN, 43000, Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia.
Tiong Sieh Kiong
College of Engineering, Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN @The Energy University), Putrajaya Campus, Jalan IKRAM-UNITEN, 43000, Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia; Institute of Sustainable Energy (ISE), University Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN @The Energy University), Putrajaya Campus, Jalan IKRAM-UNITEN, 43000, Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia
Kazi Sajedur Rahman
Solar Energy Research.Institute (SERI), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), 43600 Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia
Muhammad Najib Harif
Faculty of Applied Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Cawangan Negeri Sembilan, 72000, Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia
Nowshad Amin
Dept. of Electrical Electronic and Systems Engineering, FKAB, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi 43600, Selangor, Malaysia
Recent advancements in CdTe solar cell technology have introduced the integration of flexible substrates, providing lightweight and adaptable energy solutions for various applications. Some of the notable applications of flexible solar photovoltaic technology include building integrated photovoltaic systems (BIPV), transportation, aerospace, satellites, etc. However, despite this advancement, certain issues regarding metal and p-CdTe remained unresolved. Besides, the fabrication of a full-working device on flexible glass is challenging and requires special consideration due to the unstable morphology and structural properties of deposited film on ultra-thin glass substrates. The existing gap in knowledge about the vast potential of flexible CdTe solar cells on UTG substrates and their possible applications blocks their full capacity utilization. Hence, this comprehensive review paper exclusively concentrates on the obstacles associated with the implementation of CdTe solar cells on UTG substrates with a potential back surface field (BSF) layer. The significance of this study lies in its meticulous identification and analysis of the substantial challenges associated with integrating flexible CdTe onto UTG substrates and leveraging Cu-doped ZnTe as a potential BSF layer to enhance the performance of flexible CdTe solar cells.
