Elemental de-mixing-induced epitaxial kesterite/CdS interface enabling 13%-efficiency kesterite solar cells

Gong, Yuancai; Zhu, Qiang; Li, Bingyan; Wang, Shanshan; Duan, Biwen; Lou, Licheng; Xiang, Chunxu; Jedlicka, Erin; Giridharagopal, Rajiv; Zhou, Yage; Dai, Qi; Yan, Weibo; Chen, Shiyou; Meng, Qingbo; Xin, Hao

doi:10.1038/s41560-022-01132-4

Cited by 183 publications

(168 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…In 2014, Mitzi's group [11] increased the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of CZTSSe solar cells to 12.6% based on the hydrazine solution method. In 2021, the recorded PCE of CZTSSe was improved to 13.0% by Xin's group [12], overcoming the stagnation in the PCE of CZTSSe solar cells over seven years. Recently, Meng et al [13] further improved the record efficiency to 13.6%.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Precursor solution chemistry via water additive enabling CZTSSe solar cells with over 12% efficiency

et al. 2022

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High-quality absorber films are imperative for highly efficient Cu 2 ZnSn(S,Se) 4 (CZTSSe) thin-film solar cells. Precursor solution chemistry, interconnected with thin-film nucleation and the crystal growth process, should be studied insightfully. Thus, creative rationales and strategies could be proposed to improve the absorber quality, carrier characteristics, and hence device performance. However, the research on precursor solution chemistry in CZTSSe solar cells is still in its infancy. In this study, a facile eco-friendly additive strategy is reported to tailor the 2-methoxyethanol-based CZTS precursor solution chemistry. Incorporating water additives improves the homogeneity and thermogravimetric characteristics of a precursor solution by adjusting the particle sizes and coordination behavior inside the precursor solution. After the tailoring of the precursor solution chemistry, CZTSSe absorbers with high quality are fabricated. Hence, benefiting from the carrier dynamics enhancement, a CZTSSe device with a certified power conversion efficiency of 12.07% is achieved. The results open an avenue in precursor solution chemistry regulation through the use of eco-friendly additives to design highly efficient kesterite CZTSSe solar cells.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Precursor solution chemistry via water additive enabling CZTSSe solar cells with over 12% efficiency

et al. 2022

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“…Bandgap gradient is a proven approach for reducing the nonradiative recombination and improving the V OC s in Cu(In,Ga)Se 2 [29][30][31][32] and Cu(Zn,Sn)Se 2 33 solar cells. It is important to note that the bandgap gradient region must not present any additional detrimental hetero interface that often contains defects of nonradiative recombination.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

20%-efficient polycrystalline Cd(Se,Te) thin-film solar cells with compositional gradient near the front junction

Bista

Awni

et al. 2022

Nat Commun

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Bandgap gradient is a proven approach for improving the open-circuit voltages (VOCs) in Cu(In,Ga)Se2 and Cu(Zn,Sn)Se2 thin-film solar cells, but has not been realized in Cd(Se,Te) thin-film solar cells, a leading thin-film solar cell technology in the photovoltaic market. Here, we demonstrate the realization of a bandgap gradient in Cd(Se,Te) thin-film solar cells by introducing a Cd(O,S,Se,Te) region with the same crystal structure of the absorber near the front junction. The formation of such a region is enabled by incorporating oxygenated CdS and CdSe layers. We show that the introduction of the bandgap gradient reduces the hole density in the front junction region and introduces a small spike in the band alignment between this and the absorber regions, effectively suppressing the nonradiative recombination therein and leading to improved VOCs in Cd(Se,Te) solar cells using commercial SnO2 buffers. A champion device achieves an efficiency of 20.03% with a VOC of 0.863 V.

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“…It should be noted that the current reported champion CZTSSe solar cells involved no intermediate layer, which could be explained by a more favorable back contact due to the low resistivity of MoSe 2 compared with MoS 2 . [ 17 ] However, additional passivation effects and the avoidance of decomposition may still benefit the device without sacrificing the Mo contact. Recently, Kim's group reported CZTSSe solar cells with the Al 2 O 3 pattern on Mo produced by the photolithography process.…”

Section: Back Contact Interface Engineeringmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Critical Review on the Progress of Kesterite Solar Cells: Current Strategies and Insights

Wang

Green

et al. 2022

Advanced Energy Materials

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Kesterite Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 (CZTSSe) with earth‐abundant and environmental‐benign constituents has been regarded as a promising solar energy harvesting material for green and cost‐effective photovoltaic applications. The record efficiency of CZTSSe solar cells has recently been refreshed twice after years‐long stagnation, keeping it in the spotlight. Nevertheless, the champion efficiency of 13.6% is still far behind its counterpart Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGS) (23.35%) despite being endowed with a similar electronic structure and nearly‐identical device architecture. In fact, CZTSSe solar cells are more susceptible to non‐radiative recombination at bulk and interfaces, which must be improved for further efficiency advancement. In this review, the state‐of‐art strategies to enhance the power conversion efficiency of CZTSSe solar cells are summarized and discussed, with focus given to three critical device regions i) kesterite absorber, ii) buffer/kesterite interface, and iii) kesterite/back contact interface. With the further elucidation of the latest progress and disclosure of fundamental mechanisms, novel insights toward high‐efficiency kesterite solar cells are proposed.

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Elemental de-mixing-induced epitaxial kesterite/CdS interface enabling 13%-efficiency kesterite solar cells

Cited by 183 publications

References 35 publications

Precursor solution chemistry via water additive enabling CZTSSe solar cells with over 12% efficiency

Precursor solution chemistry via water additive enabling CZTSSe solar cells with over 12% efficiency

20%-efficient polycrystalline Cd(Se,Te) thin-film solar cells with compositional gradient near the front junction

A Critical Review on the Progress of Kesterite Solar Cells: Current Strategies and Insights

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