Facilities

Complete solar cell device fabrication and characterisation

A unique advantage within NUPV is the ability to fabricate complete thin film solar cells on a range of substrates. This capability is based on fabrication techniques that include:

multi-target sputtering systems;
electron beam and thermal evaporators;
chemical synthesis of nanostructures; and
multiple high temperature annealling furnaces.

Layers and devices fabricated using these techniques are subsequently characterised using:

air mass 1.5 solar simulators (class AAA, ABA and ABB available);
external quantum efficiency (including voltage and light bias);
electrical and optical spectroscopy (3.5-350 K)
X-ray diffraction
atomic force microscopy;
secondary ion mass spectroscopy; and
multipurpose FEG scanning electron microscope.

Equipment and facilities for film and device fabrication

E-beam/thermal evaporator

Moorfield Technology 080 multipocket ebeam (6x7cc) and 2 x thermal everaporation sources
Load lock with plasma etch, 6'' substrate and heating up to 500C
Primary use: Al, Ni, Au, Ge, Al2O3, Sn, MgF2

Thermal evaporator #1

Leybold Univex 250 with 2x TE sources
4'' substrates and heating up to 900C
Primary use: SnS, Sb2Se3, ZnS, InS

Magnetron sputtering #1

Teer Coatings UDP450 with 4x closed field unbalanced magnetrons
DC/Pulse DC x2, DC x2, RF x1, Pulse DC substrate bias, plasma monitoring, carrousel substrate holder and radiant heater.
Primary use: Mo, ITO, ZnO, Ti, Ag, Mg, Cu