Perspectives on SnSe-based thin film solar cells: a comprehensive review

Reddy, Vasudeva Reddy Minnam; Pejjai, Babu; Park, Chinho

doi:10.1007/s10854-016-4563-9

Cited by 97 publications

(34 citation statements)

References 107 publications

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“…In addition, due to the low cost, rich elements, and environmental friendliness, 2D IV-VI semiconductors have become a research hotspot in recent years. Monolayered SnSe is a fascinating 2D material due to its ideal electric and thermal properties in the field of nanoelectronics [20], which means it has promising applications in the photovoltaic industry, cut-off devices, and infrared lasers [21][22][23]. It has been reported that the adsorption behaviors of some small gas molecules on a GeS sheet [11], a SnS sheet [24], and an α-SnSe sheet [25].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

First Principles Study of Gas Molecules Adsorption on Monolayered β-SnSe

et al. 2019

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For the purpose of exploring the application of two-dimensional (2D) material in the field of gas sensors, the adsorption properties of gas molecules, CO, CO2, CH2O, O2, NO2, and SO2 on the surface of monolayered tin selenium in β phase (β-SnSe) has been researched by first principles calculation based on density functional theory (DFT). The results indicate that β-SnSe sheet presents weak physisorption for CO and CO2 molecules with small adsorption energy and charge transfers, which show that a β-SnSe sheet is not suitable for sensing CO and CO2. The adsorption behavior of CH2O molecules adsorbed on a β-SnSe monolayer is stronger than that of CO and CO2, revealing that the β-SnSe layer can be applied to detect CH2O as physical sensor. Additionally, O2, NO2, and SO2 are chemically adsorbed on a β-SnSe monolayer with moderate adsorption energy and considerable charge transfers. All related calculations reveal that β-SnSe has a potential application in detecting and catalyzing O2, NO2, and SO2 molecules.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

First Principles Study of Gas Molecules Adsorption on Monolayered β-SnSe

et al. 2019

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“…[ 11,12 ] However, the efficiency of kesterite solar cells has not exceeded 12.6% for many years, [ 13 ] mainly owing to the narrow phase stability range, inhomogeneity, presence of secondary phases, and deep level defects in the absorber layer. [ 7,14,15 ] On the other hand, binary chalcogenides such as Sb 2 S 3 , [ 16 ] Sb 2 Se 3 , [ 17 ] SnS, [ 18,19 ] GeSe, [ 20 ] and SnSe [ 21 ] have garnered renewed attention for application in solar cells owing to their excellent control over the stoichiometry and favorable optical and electrical properties. In addition, the earth‐abundant, inexpensive, and less toxic constituents of these materials strengthen their potential in terms of cost‐effective manufacturing and commercial application.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Orthorhombic SnSe (α‐SnSe) has several essential properties for PV applications, such as an appropriate optical bandgap, high optical absorption coefficients ( α > 10 5 cm −1 ) in the visible region, intrinsic p‐type conductivity, and high hole mobility (>200 cm 2 V −1 s −1 ). [ 21–23 ] In addition, SnSe has a direct bandgap of ≈1.3 eV and an indirect bandgap of ≈ 0.9 eV, which allows the carriers to excite over the direct bandgap, thermalize to lower energy levels, and recombine through the indirect bandgap, which results in an enhanced carrier lifetime. Nevertheless, little attention was focused on exploiting the potential of SnSe for PV application, although its thermoelectric properties were intensively studied.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Vapor‐Transport‐Deposited Orthorhombic‐SnSe Thin Films: A Potential Cost‐Effective Absorber Material for Solar‐Cell Applications

et al. 2021

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The power‐conversion efficiencies of orthorhombic tin selenide (α‐SnSe)‐based thin‐film solar cells (TFSCs) are very low—less than 1% in most cases—due to the poor crystallinity, small grains, and large number of defects. Herein, the highest cell efficiency of 2.51% together with a high short‐circuit current density of 28.07 mA cm−2 for α‐SnSe TFSCs grown via vapor‐transport‐deposition (VTD) is reported. The grain size and surface roughness of the SnSe thin films greatly influence the shunt properties of the device. Significantly large shunt losses are detected in the case of both small and extremely large grains. The shunt losses for SnSe thin film with small grains are associated with high grain‐boundary scattering. The presence of extremely large grains results in high surface roughness of the SnSe thin film, which causes nonuniform deposition of the CdS buffer layer and, consequently, higher shunt losses. The SnSe thin film with moderate‐sized grains and inferior surface roughness exhibits improved shunt properties owing to uniform deposition of the CdS buffer layer and subsequent layers and thereby significant improvement in the device performance. The potential of orthorhombic VTD‐SnSe thin films as an emerging cost‐effective absorber layer for TFSCs is experimentally demonstrated.

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“…The binary chalcogenides SnS and SnSe have been of continuous scientific interest in recent years due to their wide range of applications in next-generation optoelectronic systems. 1,2 Their semiconducting nature and outstanding electronic properties [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8] give rise to potential applications in solar cells, nanowires, superconductors and rechargeable batteries, [9][10][11][12][13] and they are considered strong candidates for use in sustainable energy technologies as they are formed of nontoxic and earth-abundant elements. [14][15][16] There are five reported crystal phases for SnS and SnSe in the recent literature, viz.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Phase Stability of the Tin Monochalcogenides SnS and SnSe: A Quasi-Harmonic Lattice-Dynamics Study

Pallikara¹,

Skelton²

2021

Preprint

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The tin monochalcogenides SnS and SnSe adopt four different crystal structures, viz. orthorhombic Pnma and Cmcm and cubic rocksalt and π-cubic (P213) phases, each of which has optimal properties for a range of potential applications. This rich phase space makes it challenging to identify the conditions under which the different phases are obtained. We have performed first-principles quasi-harmonic lattice-dynamics calculations to assess the relative stabilities of the four phases of SnS and SnSe. We investigate dynamical stability through the presence or absence of imaginary modes in the phonon dispersion curves, and we compute Helmholtz and Gibbs free energies to evaluate the thermodynamic stability. We also consider applied pressures from 0-15 GPa to obtain temperature-pressure phase diagrams. Finally, the relationships between the different crystal phases are investigated by explicitly mapping the potential-energy surfaces along the imaginary phonon modes and by using the climbing-image nudged elastic-band method.

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Perspectives on SnSe-based thin film solar cells: a comprehensive review

Cited by 97 publications

References 107 publications

First Principles Study of Gas Molecules Adsorption on Monolayered β-SnSe

First Principles Study of Gas Molecules Adsorption on Monolayered β-SnSe

Vapor‐Transport‐Deposited Orthorhombic‐SnSe Thin Films: A Potential Cost‐Effective Absorber Material for Solar‐Cell Applications

Phase Stability of the Tin Monochalcogenides SnS and SnSe: A Quasi-Harmonic Lattice-Dynamics Study

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