DETERMINATION OF ENERGY GAPS OF CuO & ZnO SOLAR CELLS USING SPECTRA AND ELECTRIC POWER

Abstract

The energy gaps for CuO and ZnO are obtained by using optical absorption and transmittance. The optical absorption for CuO and ZnO, shows a peak corresponding to the energy gaps in the ranges (1.3 – 2 ????????) and (2.2 – 3.6 eV) respectively. These values are compatible with the observed values 0.2 eV and 3.3 eV for CuO, which acts as a p- type semiconductor, and for ZnO, which acts as an n- type semiconductor. These values measure acceptor and donor levels for CuO and ZnO. However the transmittance spectrum for CuO and ZnO shows band gaps about ????????~3.7 ???????? , and 3.6 ????????. These values measures the energy gap between conduction and valence band for both, respectively. The solar cell fabricated from FTO/ ZnO/ CuO/ Al shows decrease in efficiency as the cross section area increase.