Non-vacuum processed next generation thin film photovoltaics: Towards marketable efficiency and production of CZTS based solar cells

Abermann, S.

doi:10.1016/j.solener.2013.04.017

Cited by 132 publications

(61 citation statements)

References 266 publications

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“…Physical methods include thermal evaporation, sputtering and pulsed laser deposition [3][4][5][6][7]. However, these methods are expensive compared to simpler wet-chemical methods as they require the use of vacuum equipment [8]. Therefore, chemical based methods which include sol-gel synthesis, successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR), chemical bath deposition (CBD), electrodeposition and nanocrystalline ink synthesis are quite promising [9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A low-cost, sulfurization free approach to control optical and electronic properties of Cu2ZnSnS4 via precursor variation

Gupta

Whittles

Batra

et al. 2016

Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells

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Thin films of Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) were synthesized via a low cost, wet chemical technique of chemical bath deposition (CBD). In the first part of this study, the chemical composition ratio S/(Cu+Zn+Sn) was varied keeping Cu/(Zn + Sn) and Zn/Sn ratios constant to study the effect of sulfur variation. Detailed electrical and optical characterization has been carried out using UV-Vis spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM) techniques. The results of the present study confirm that near ideal stoichiometry could be achieved in CZTS by adding excess thiourea in a controlled manner which eliminates the need for the normally used post-synthesis and high temperature sulfurization step. Using the stoichiometric sample as the basis, in the second part of the study Cu/(Zn+Sn) and Zn/Sn was varied and it was found that the electronic properties of CZTS in terms of band gap, work function and valence band edge position could be controlled by precursor variation. The Cu-poor, Zn-rich samples showed a better photoresponse which has been attributed to a decrease in the CuZn type defects. The study thus demonstrates a scalable and low-cost technique to grow CZTS absorber layers for solar cells with control over its electronic properties which is important for effective device operation.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A low-cost, sulfurization free approach to control optical and electronic properties of Cu2ZnSnS4 via precursor variation

Gupta

Whittles

Batra

et al. 2016

Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells

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“…Sputtering by atomic beam [2] Sputtering by radio frequency magnetron [4,5] Sulphurization of either electron-beam-evaporated or electrodeposited precursors [6,7] Photochemical deposition [8] Spray pyrolysis [9] Pulsed laser deposition [10,11] Sol-gel sulphurization [12] Chemical synthesis [13,14] Review on non-vacuum processes to fabricate thin films of CZTS with kesterite structure and composition has been published [15] …”

Section: Synthesis Methods Referencesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Spin coating 11.1 [15] Co-evaporation 9.15 [15] Sequential electrodeposition 7.3 [15] One-step electrodeposition 3.4 [15] Chemical vapour deposition 6 [15] Sol-gel synthesis 5.1 [15] Ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) 1.85 [15] Spray pyrolysis 1.13 [12] Blade coating 6.8 [1] Co-sputtering 6.7 [1] Sequential sputtering 4.6 [1] Physical layer deposition 3.14 [1] Sequential e-beam evaporation 1.7 [1] Chemical bath deposition 0.16 [1] Reactive co-sputtering 3.4 [1] Stacked deposition (sputtering + evaporation) 6 [1] Fast co-evaporation 4.1 [1] The solar cells fabricated with all these methods have very different performance (see Table 3) because the composition of CZTS film was quite different and besides many secondary phases such as ZnS were present. In order to decrease these secondary phase, thermal treatment at different temperature either in inert or reactive atmosphere was performed.…”

Section: Synthesis Methods Efficiency (%) Referencesmentioning

confidence: 99%

One-Step Electrodeposition of CZTS for Solar Cell Absorber Layer

Farinella¹,

Livreri²,

Piazza³

et al. 2015

Electroplating of Nanostructures

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CZTS thin films were obtained by one-step electrochemical deposition from aqueous solution at room temperature. Films were deposited on two different substrates, ITO on PET, and electropolished Mo. Differently from previous studies focusing exclusively on the formation of kesterite (Cu 4 ZnSnS 4 ), here, the synthesis of a phase with this exact composition was not considered as the unique objective. Really, starting from different baths, amorphous semiconducting layers containing copper-zinc-tinsulphur with atomic fraction Cu 0.592 Zn 0.124 Sn 0.063 S 0.221 and Cu 0.415 Zn 0.061 Sn 0.349 S 0.175 , were potentiostatically deposited. Due to the amorphous nature, it was not possible to detect if one or more phases were formed. By photoelectrochemical measurements, we evaluated optical gap values between 1.5 eV, similar to that assigned to kesterite, and 1.0 eV. Reproducibility and adhesion to the substrate were solved by changing S with Se. Preliminary results showed that an amorphous p-type layer, having atomic fraction Cu 0.434 Zn 0.036 Sn 0.138 Se 0.392 and an optical gap of 1.33 eV, can be obtained by one-step electrochemical deposition.

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“…[ 4 ] The best organometallic perovskite cells currently reaching 16-18% effi ciency values are also produced by depositing constituent layers with low-temperature solution methods (typically spin-coating). [ 5 ] There are several recent reviews that praise liquid-processed photovoltaics, starting from the comprehensive book edited by D. Mitzi, [ 7 ] an extensive overview of Habas et al, [ 8 ] followed by more specifi c reviews of chalcopyrite [ 9 ] and kesterite [10][11][12] absorbers, as well as interface engineering concepts. [ 13 ] In this article we would like to critically evaluate various solution deposition methods for creating a high-effi ciency chalcogenide thin fi lm solar cell, in which not just one but several functional layers are obtained by a scalable solution approach.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

All Solution‐Processed Chalcogenide Solar Cells – from Single Functional Layers Towards a 13.8% Efficient CIGS Device

Romanyuk

Hagendorfer

Stücheli

et al. 2014

Adv Funct Materials

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Solution processing of inorganic thin fi lms has become an important thrust in material research community because it offers low-cost and high-throughput deposition of various functional coatings and devices. Especially inorganic thin fi lm solar cells -macroelectronic devices that rely on consecutive deposition of layers on large-area rigid and fl exible substrates -could benefi t from solution approaches in order to realize their low-cost nature. This article critically reviews existing deposition approaches of functional layers for chalcogenide solar cells with an extension to other thin fi lm technologies. Only true solutions of readily available metal salts in appropriate solvents are considered without the need of pre-fabricated nanoparticles. By combining three promising approaches, an air-stable Cu(In,Ga)Se 2 thin fi lm solar cell with effi ciency of 13.8% is demonstrated where all constituent layers (except the metal back contact) are processed from solutions. Notably, water is employed as the solvent in all steps, highlighting the potential for safe manufacturing with high utilization rates. remarkable improvements in conversion effi ciency. [ 1 ] The highest effi ciency of 21.0% has been achieved for two thin fi lm technologies so far: Cu(In,Ga)Se 2 (CIGS) [ 2 ] and CdTe. [ 3 ] Remarkably, both CIGS and CdTe records are exceeding the highest value of 20.4% for the market leading polycrystalline silicon wafer technology. Kesterite Cu 2 ZnSn(S,Se) 4 (CZTSSe) solar cells are often considered as low-cost alternatives to CIGS and CdTe because they consist of only earth-abundant and nontoxic elements although the effi ciency is currently limited to 12.6% (12.7% not certifi ed). [ 4 ] Well-established dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) and amorphous silicon (a-Si) technology peak at 12.3% and 13.4%, respectively. [ 1 ] The most recent boom in TFPV -organometallic halide perovskite cells -has shown an incredible spurt by advancing effi ciency from below 5% to 17.9%(!) within just 3 years. [ 5 ] On the border to classical TFSC is the thin crystalline silicon technology that employs liftoff of 50-micrometer-thick Si wafers to yield up to 21.2%-efficient solar cells. [ 6 ] These massive research and development efforts in the fi eld of TFSC clearly refl ect their commercial value for manufacturing inexpensive effi cient solar modules -rigid or fl exible. Functional layers for the high effi ciency devices are deposited mostly in a batch-to-batch manner using vacuum-based methods such as evaporation, sputtering, or chemical vapor deposition. For example, Figure 1 exhibits a cross-section of a >20% effi cient CIGS solar cell in the so-called substrate confi guration, where 5 out of 6 functional layers are deposited by evaporation or sputtering. In this respect, non-vacuum deposition methods are often promoted as alternative approaches to reduce capital investment costs, offer fast roll-to-roll (R2R) processing and eventually reduce the PV module prices. Particularly desirable among non-vacuum approaches are solutionb...

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Non-vacuum processed next generation thin film photovoltaics: Towards marketable efficiency and production of CZTS based solar cells

Cited by 132 publications

References 266 publications

A low-cost, sulfurization free approach to control optical and electronic properties of Cu2ZnSnS4 via precursor variation

A low-cost, sulfurization free approach to control optical and electronic properties of Cu2ZnSnS4 via precursor variation

One-Step Electrodeposition of CZTS for Solar Cell Absorber Layer

All Solution‐Processed Chalcogenide Solar Cells – from Single Functional Layers Towards a 13.8% Efficient CIGS Device

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