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Sb2Se3 is a promising absorber material for photovoltaic cells because of its optimum band gap, strong optical absorption, simple phase and composition, and earth-abundant and nontoxic constituents. However, this material is rarely explored for photovoltaic application. Here we report Sb2Se3 solar cells fabricated from thermal evaporation. The rationale to choose thermal evaporation for Sb2Se3 film deposition was first discussed, followed by detailed characterization of Sb2Se3 film deposited onto FTO with different substrate temperatures. We then studied the optical absorption, photosensitivity, and band position of Sb2Se3 film, and finally a prototype photovoltaic device FTO/Sb2Se3/CdS/ZnO/ZnO:Al/Au was constructed, achieving an encouraging 2.1% solar conversion efficiency.

Sb2Se3 is a very promising absorber material for thin film photovoltaics because of its ideal band gap, strong optical absorption, and non-toxic and earth-abundant constituents. However, only until this year Sb2Se3 solar cell was reported. Here, we present the fabrication and characterization of thermally evaporated superstrate CdS/Sb2Se3 solar cell. Our device achieved a power conversion efficiency of 1.9% (Voc = 300 mV, Jsc = 13.2 mA/cm2, and FF = 48%) and showed good stability. Moreover, using current-voltage measurement, admittance spectroscopy, capacitance-voltage profiling, and drive level capacitance profiling, device characteristics and performance limiting factors are revealed and discussed.

Thermal evaporation and characterization of superstrate CdS/Sb2Se3 solar cells Appl. Phys. Lett. 104, 173904 (2014); 10.1063/1.4874878 Photoelectric performance of TiO 2 nanotube array photoelectrodes cosensitized with CdS/CdSe quantum dots Appl. Phys. Lett. 96, 153104 (2010); 10.1063/1.3386525 Effect of internal surface area on the performance of Zn O ∕ In 2 S 3 ∕ Cu SCN solar cells with extremely thin absorber Appl. Phys. Lett. 92, 153107 (2008);