CX-100683 Categorical Exclusion Determination

Developing a low cost, high volume and scalable manufacturing technology for undoped and heavily p-type doped CdTe feedstock materials
Award Number: DE-EE0007537
CX(s) Applied: A9, B3.6
Solar Energy Technologies Office
Date: 8/1/2016
Location(s): WA
Office(s): Golden Field Office

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is proposing to provide funding to Washington State University (WSU) to develop a CdTe synthesis and growth process that yields improved semi-conductor crystals for the solar industry. The proposed project would use cadmium and telluride for the crystal material, which would be alloyed with controlled concentrations of phosphorus (“p-type doping”). After purity and defect characterization, the better crystals would be used to fabricate solar cells and evaluated for efficiency at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).

The proposed activities during Year 1 would include growth of CdTe:P semiconductor crystals in existing Modified Vertical Bridgman (MVB) furnaces at WSU in Pullman WA, followed by characterization of the materials using thermoelectric effect spectroscopy (TEES), resistivity and hole density (Hall/CV), infrared microscopy (IR), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), and Glow Discharge Mass Spectrometry (GDMS). Chemical analyses would be undertaken at WSU. MVB grown feedstock would be used to fabricate thin films at WSU and NREL, and materials with the best electronic properties would be used to fabricate solar cells at NREL. Additionally, in preparation for activities that would take place during Years 2 and 3, the proposed project would involve reconfiguration of existing High Pressure Bridgman (HPB) furnaces both at WSU and at the dedicated research facility of subrecipient Nious Technologies, Inc. in Wexford PA.