Interface chemistry con control the performance and operational lifetime of solar cells, especially thin-film, polycrystalline devices. The composition and elemental integrity of devices surfaces, internal junctions,layer and defect interfaces can be related to and dominate the electron-optical characteristics ofthe materials/devices. This paper examines the compositional properties of external and internal surfaces in polycristalline solar cells, utilizing high-resolution, complementary surface analysis techniques. The electronic properties of these same regions are evaluated usingmicroelectrical characterization methods. Cell performance, in turn, is explained in terms of these relationships. Specifically, two solar cell types are used as examples: (1) the polycrystalline Si homojunction; and(2) the (CdZn)S/CuInSe2 heterojunction. Throughout these investigations of photovoltaic devices, the limitations and strengths of the surface and electrical microanalyses techniques are emphasized and discussed.
