High‐Efficiency Solar Cell with Earth‐Abundant Liquid‐Processed Absorber

Abstract

Chalcogenide-based solar cells provide a critical pathway to cost parity between photovoltaic (PV) and conventional energy sources. Currently, only Cu(In,Ga)(S,Se) 2 (CIGS) and CdTe technologies have reached commercial module production with stable power conversion efficiencies of over 9 percent. [1,2] Despite the promise of these technologies, restrictions on heavy metal usage for Cd and limitations in supply for In and Te are projected to restrict the production capacity of the existing chalcogen-based technologies to <100 GWp per year, a small fraction of our growing energy needs, which are expected to double to 27 TW by 2050.[3-5] Earth-abundant copper-zinc-tin-chalcogenide kesterites, Cu 2 ZnSnS 4 and Cu 2 ZnSnSe 4 , have been examined as potential alternatives for the two leading technologies, [6][7][8][9] reaching promising but not yet marketable efficiencies of 6.7% and 3.2%, respectively, by multilayer vacuum deposition. [7,8] Here we show a non-vacuum, slurry-based coating method that combines advantages of both solution processing [10][11][12][13] and particlebased deposition, [14][15][16][17] enabling fabrication of Cu 2 ZnSn(Se,S) 4 devices with over 9.6% efficiency-a factor of five performance improvement relative to previous attempts to use highthroughput ink-based approaches [16][17][18] and >40% higher than previous record devices prepared using vacuum-based methods. [7]

Comparative study of the luminescence and intrinsic point defects in the kesterite Cu2ZnSnS4and chalcopyrite Cu(In,Ga)Se2Romero1, Du2, Teeter3 et al. 2011Phys. Rev. B20451220View full textAdd to dashboardCite

“…Zn-rich (Zn/Sn ~ 1.36), which is consistent with the stoichiometry of the best CZTS solar cells reported in the literature [11,12]. The Cu/(In+Ga) ratio for our reference CIGS is ~ 0.9 and the Ga/(In+Ga) ~ 0.3, as required for record performance [13].…”

Wurtzite Cu2ZnSnSe4 nanocrystals for high-performance organic–inorganic hybrid photodetectors

“…23 Moreover, Cu 2 ZnSnS x Se 4-x -based thin-film solar cells with power conversion efficiency of 9.6%, a level suitable for possible commercialization, have been constructed by solution method using toxic and unstable hydrazine. 24 However, solution-based methods for synthesis of highquality and stoichiometric CZTSe NCs is still a big challenge. 25,26 On the other hand, it is well known that the composition and structure of NCs significantly affect their optical and electrical properties, and the structure can be tuned by source materials, capping ligands, as well as synthetic temperature.…”

A Cadmium-Free Cu2ZnSnS4/ZnO Hetrojunction Solar Cell Prepared by Practicable Processes

“…[1][2][3] In addition to these properties, its toxicity is relatively low compared to the compounds containing selenium such as Cu 2 Zn 1−x Cd x Sn(Se 1−y S y ) 4 , Cu 2 ZnSn(Se,S) 4 , Cu(In,Ga)Se 2 , and CdTe so that it is very attractive as a light absorber material for solar cells. [4][5][6][7][8] Several research efforts have recently been made on the CZTS-based solar cells since Katagiri et al reported a CZTS/CdS hetrojunction solar cell with 6.77%. [9][10][11][12][13][14][15] However, an intensive usage of highly toxic cadmium compound such as CdS, prohibited by the RoHS (Restriction of the use of certain Hazardous Substances in electrical and electronic equipment) regulations, is a drawback and an alternative material is desirable to realize a more environment-friendly device.…”