Solar Conversion Efficiency of Pressure Sintered Cadmium Selenide Liquid Junction Cells

Abstract

Pressure sintered electrodes of cadmium selenide subsequently doped with cadmium vapor have shown solar energy conversion efficiencies approaching of those of single crystal specimens in sunlight experiments. The cell has operated at 5.1% conversion efficiency under AM2 conditions with polycrystalline electrodes. The relatively small sacrifice of efficiency from single crystal values of suggests the possibility of substantial cost advantage. The temperature and pressure conditions, cadmium doping procedure, material characterization, and the voltammetric behavior of the cell are discussed.