| The materials studied in this thesis are good choices for solar cell materials. Solar cells based on the structure ZnTe/CdTe/CdS/ZnO have produced solar cells whose efficiency exceeded 10%. The present study is aimed at preparing these layers using a non-vacuum technique. They have been prepared using the techniques of spray pyrolysis and conversion reactions. CdO and ZnO were prepared using spray pyrolysis and CdS, CdTe, and ZnTe by conversion reactions.;The material utilization efficiency of the spray pyrolysis deposition reached 25% for ;Maximum spray efficiencies up to 35% for ;The majority carrier type in ZnTe was found to depend on the Zn/Te ratio of the films, and on the dopant type and concentration. ZnO films were converted to ZnTe by exposing the ZnO to Te vapours, requiring 550;Undoped ZnTe prepared by this method had resistivity values that were typically 10;Solar cells of the Glass/SnO/CdS/CdTe/Graphite yielded usual efficiencies around 1% with the highest at 3.8%. The SnO layer deterioration seemed to be the major factor influencing the low performance of the cells. |
