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Laboratory (NREL) at www.nrel.gov/publications.

Contract No. DE-AC36-08GO28308

Development of Advanced CdTe 

Solar Cells Based on High 

Temperature Corning Glass 

Substrates

Cooperative Research and Development 

Final Report

CRADA Number: CRD-10-373

NREL Technical Contact: Teresa Barnes

CRADA Report

NREL/TP-7A10-58453

August 2013
NOTICE

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Cover Photos: (left to right) photo by Pat Corkery, NREL 16416, photo from SunEdison, NREL 17423, photo by Pat Corkery, NREL 

16560, photo by Dennis Schroeder, NREL 17613, photo by Dean Armstrong, NREL 17436, photo by Pat Corkery, NREL 17721.

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1

This report is available at no cost from the 

National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) 

at www.nrel.gov/publications.

Cooperative Research and Development Final Report

In accordance with Requirements set forth in Article XI.A(3) of the CRADA document, this 

document is the final CRADA report, including a list of Subject Inventions, to be forwarded to 

the Office of Science and Technical Information as part of the commitment to the public to 

demonstrate results of federally funded research.

CRADA Number: CRD-10-373

CRADA Title: Development of Advanced CdTe Solar Cells Based on High Temperature 

Corning Glass Substrates

Parties to the Agreement: Corning, Inc.

Joint Work Statement Funding Table showing DOE commitment:

Estimated Costs NREL Shared Resources

Year 1 $ 20,000.00

Year 2 $ 35,000.00

Year 3 $ 00.00

TOTALS $ 55,000.00

Abstract of CRADA work:

NREL has developed advanced processes for CdTe solar cells, but because of the temperature 

limitations of conventional soda lime glass, many of these processes have not been transferred to 

manufacturing. Corning is developing high temperature substrate glasses that are believed to be 

manufacturable and will lead to lower $/watt modules costs. The purpose of this CRADA is to 

evaluate these glasses in the advanced NREL processes. In addition, the CRADA seeks to 

develop manufacturable processes for transparent conductive oxide layers based on cadmium 

stannate.

Summary of Research Results:

We determined that Corning Inc.’s engineered high strain point glass can improve CdTe device 

performance because it allows the use of higher deposition temperatures than are achievable with 

soda lime glass.

Subject Inventions Listing: N/A

Report Date: 6/20/13

Responsible Technical Contact at Alliance/NREL: Teresa Barnes

This document contains NO confidential, protectable, or proprietary information.