Thin film CdS/CdTe solar cells were fabricated by Close space Sublimation (CSS) at the Moldova State University using a Te layer at the back contact deposited by thermal evaporation. The influence of the Te layer thickness and a cadmium chloride solution treatment of the CdTe layer before and after Te layer deposition are studied. A proper comparison of the two CdS/CdTe solar cells shows that the cell with the Te layer has a higher current because of the higher blue photosensitivity, but has a lower open circuit voltage in relation to the absorber band gap. (C) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.