Defects in Chalcogenide Compound Semiconductors for Photovoltaics

This talk briefly reviews recent progress in solar cell energy generation to set the stage. The most promising include the thin film chalcogenide compound based devices. The talk then reviews the characterization and understanding of defects in the two primary materials classes used in solar cells (photovoltaics), CdTe and CuInSe₂ and related compounds. The characterization methods discussed include scanning tunneling microscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance, and capacitance methods including scanning microwave impedance microscopy. The implications of the results for device performance are described.