According to Shockley-Queisser's theory, the maximum power conversion efficiency (PCE) of a single-junction Sb 2 S 3 solar cell is up to 28.64%. [2] Owing to the wide band gap (≈1.7 eV), it is also a suitable candidate for tandem solar cell applications. As an emerging solar cell material, its device efficiency has fallen far short of expectations and has remained limited for 8 years. [3] It has been acknowledged that the material processing method plays a vital role in improving device efficiency. In this regard, tremendous efforts have been made in developing film deposition techniques for Sb 2 S 3 absorbers, including hydrothermal, chemical bath deposition (CBD), fast chemical approach, vapor transport deposition, thermal evaporation, rapid thermal evaporation, atomic layer deposition, and closed space sublimation. [4] Among them, the CBD approach is featured as simple operation, low cost and high production capacity, [5] and the systematical survey (Figure 1f) suggested that the overall PCEs of Sb 2 S 3 solar cells are all lower than that reported in 2014 by Choi et al. using CBD method (7.5%). [3] Therefore, CBD is recognized as the most feasible and successful method for chalcogenide film deposition.Sb 2 S 3 as a light-harvesting material has attracted great attention for applications in both single-junction and tandem solar cells. Such solar cell has been faced with current challenge of low power conversion efficiency (PCE), which has stagnated for 8 years. It has been recognized that the synthesis of highquality absorber film plays a critical role in efficiency improvement. Here, using fresh precursor materials for antimony (antimony potassium tartrate) and combined sulfur (sodium thiosulfate and thioacetamide), a unique chemical bath deposition procedure is created. Due to the complexation of sodium thiosulfate and the advantageous hydrolysis cooperation between these two sulfur sources, the heterogeneous nucleation and the S 2releasing processes are boosted. As a result, there are noticeable improvements in the deposition rate, film morphology, crystallinity, and preferred orientations. Additionally, the improved film quality efficiently lowers charge trapping capacity, suppresses carrier recombination, and prolongs carrier lifetimes, leading to significantly improved photoelectric properties. Ultimately, the PCE exceeds 8% for the first time since 2014, representing the highest efficiency in all kinds of Sb 2 S 3 solar cells to date. This study is expected to shed new light on the fabrication of high-quality Sb 2 S 3 film and further efficiency improvement in Sb 2 S 3 solar cells.
Considering the fast development of wearable electronics and soft robotics, pressure sensors with high sensitivity, durability, and washability are of great importance. However, the surface modification of fabrics with high-sensitivity active materials requires that issues associated with poor interface adhesion and stability are resolved. In this study, we explored the key factors for firmly bonding MXene to fabric substrates to fabricate wearable and washable pressure sensing fabric. The interactions between MXene and various fabrics were elucidated by investigating the adsorption and binding capacities. The natural rough surface of cotton fibers also promoted the firm adsorption of MXene. As a result, MXene was difficult to detach, even with mechanical washing and ultrasonic treatment. Further, the abundant functional groups on the MXene surface were conducive to interfacial interactions with cotton fibers. An increase in the amount of fluorine-containing functional groups also improved the hydrophobicity of the fabric surface. The good force-sensitive resistance of MXene-coated cotton allowed this pressure-sensing fabric to function as a flexible pressure sensor, which showed a high gauge factor (7.67 kPa −1 ), a rapid response and relaxation speed (<35 ms), excellent stability (>2000 cycles), and good washing durability. Further, the as-fabricated flexible pressure sensor was demonstrated as a wearable human−machine interface that supported multitouch interactions and exhibited a rapid response. Thus, this work provides a new approach for developing next-generation high-sensitivity wearable pressure sensors.
Antimony chalcogenides (Sb2(SxSe1−x)3, 0 < x < 1) have recently gained popularity due to their excellent photoelectric properties. As a newcomer to thin‐film solar cells, the quality of the as‐prepared absorb layer remains the most difficult challenge, owing to its distinct crystal structure. Here, a solvent‐assisted hydrothermal deposition (SHD) technique is developed for direct deposition of high‐quality Sb2(S,Se)3 films; it is realized that the addition of ethanol can regulate the reaction kinetics by regulating the concentration of the Sb source during the deposition procedure. Impressively, under such conditions, the deposition rate of the target absorb layer slows dramatically, resulting in more suitable features, such as large grain size, smooth surface, and proper bandgap, which are beneficial for constructing high performance solar devices. More importantly, using this newly developed SHD strategy, the defect (SbS1) density of the prepared films decreases by more than one order of magnitude, which is believed to benefit carrier transport. As a result, Sb2(S,Se)3 solar cells based on the SHD strategy significantly improve fill factor and short‐circuit current density, yielding a high efficiency of 10.75%. This research offers fresh insights into how to make Sb2(S,Se)3 films and solar cells of higher quality.
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