I’m starting a new solar line. What are the major TCO types I should consider?
Congratulations and good luck with your new endeavor! To provide a little background for our other readers, the transparent conductive oxide (TCO) layer is the first deposited for multi-junction amorphous silicon and CdTe (cadmium-telluride) cells. For most CIGS cells, the TCO is deposited last. This layer is transparent to allow sunlight to enter the solar cell, and also must be electrically conductive. Figure 3. For most CIGS solar panels, the last layer deposited is the TCO, while for multi-junction amorphous silicon and CdTe panels, the first layer deposited is the TCO (Click graphic to enlarge.) There are five major types of TCO: ITO, IZO, AZO, SnO, and Cd2SnO4. It’s also possible to use a very thin layer of metal, such as silver, to serve the same function as a TCO. Each option has its own advantages and disadvantages, so when deciding what type of TCO is best for your manufacturing operation, it’s important to weigh your particular priorities for such issues as layer performance
