Current Photovoltaic Research ISSN:2288-3274(Print) 2508-125X(Online)

In this study, CIGS absorber layers were deposited on low-alkali glass and sodalime glass substrates and potasium floride (KF) of various thicknesses was supplied at an elevated temperature after the CIGS growth. The effect of KF post-deposition treatment on the two types of substrates was extremely different. On the low-alkali substrate, the open-circuit voltage (Voc) was improved but the fill-factor (FF) degradation was severe, whereas the sodalime substrate showed Voc deterioration and FF improvement. In the case of supplying 20 nm of KF on both substrates, the efficiency gain of 0.3~1.1%p was obtained. With increasing the KF thickness, a small protrusion–like microstructure developed on the surface of the absorber layer, and the microstructures that were not removed in the subsequent process were found to be the main cause of the FF loss.