Investigation of the stoichiometry of cuprous sulfide layers in solar elements obtained in a single vacuum cycle

Taking into account that the efficiency of photoconverters is influenced by the degree of stoichiometry of the cuprous sulfide layer, the authors of this article investigate the deviation from stoichiometry of the composition of the compound Cu /SUB x/ S obtained according to the technology developed. The electrochemical method for reducing Cu /SUB x/ SexclamationCu /SUB x/ SexclamationCu was employed for the investigation. The investigations carried out showed that cuprous sulfide layers obtained can be brought to the strict stoichiometric composition. For this purpose, the original layers are subjected to electrochemical reduction. The single vacuum technology is shown to be promising for obtaining efficient thin-film photocells of the CdS-Cu /SUB x/ S system owing to the high degree of stoichiometry of the cuprous sulfide layers. The method of electrochemical reduction makes it possible to determine the thickness of the copper sulfide layers and their composition, as well as to adjust the composition to the strict stoichiometric composition in accordance with the formula Cu/sub 2/S.