Solution-processed sulfur depleted Cu(In, Ga)Se<sub>2</sub> solar cells synthesized from a monoamine–dithiol solvent mixture

Zhao, Xin; Lu, Mingxuan; Koeper, Mark J.; Agrawal, Rakesh

doi:10.1039/c6ta00533k

Cited by 59 publications

(83 citation statements)

References 51 publications

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“…The possible reaction mechanism of the metal oxides with ammonium thioglycolate aqueous solution is that the thiol is deprotonated with the help of ammonium hydroxide. It is speculated that the dissolution of these metal oxides (Ag 2 O, CuO, ZnO, and SnO) could be the formation of thiolatometallate anions counterbalanced by NH 4 + cations …”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Green Atmospheric Aqueous Solution Deposition for High Performance Cu₂ZnSn(S,Se)₄ Thin Film Solar Cells

Tian

et al. 2018

Solar RRL

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Environment‐friendly process, low production cost, and simple operation are regarded as key factors for scalable kesterite photovoltaic applications. Herein a green ammonium thioglycolate (TGAm)‐based aqueous solution route has been developed to deposit Cu2ZnSnS4 films. It is found that sinstering in ambient air is as good as in argon, making the production process more affordable and reproducible. TGAm is more active than other alkylthiols with longer alkyl chains and has a strong coordination capability toward metal ions, which is a key factor in the dissolution of a series of metal oxides. Meanwhile, TGAm is widely used in biopharmaceuticals and hairspray, demonstrating good biological compatibility. Moreover, a low level of Ag doping can be successfully incorporated into the host lattice of the CZTSSe to form a homogeneous (Cu1−x,Agx)2ZnSn(S,Se)4 (CAZTSSe) alloy material by this aqueous process. Benefiting from the effect of Ag doping, the initial power conversion efficiency is successfully enhanced from 5.86% (x = 0) to 7.38% (x = 2%).

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Green Atmospheric Aqueous Solution Deposition for High Performance Cu₂ZnSn(S,Se)₄ Thin Film Solar Cells

Tian

et al. 2018

Solar RRL

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“…However, hydrazine presents many challenges due to safety concerns and environmental regulations given its toxicity. As a result, molecular inks for CZTS have been developed based on other solvents, including: (1) polar aprotic solvents di-methylsulfoxide and di-methyl-formamide (DMSO and DMF) [18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25], (2) polar protic solvents (like water and alcohols) [26,27], and (3) amine-thiol solutions [28][29][30]. Aprotic polar solvents like DMSO and DMF have very high pKa and lack a reactive oxygen site (in contrast to protic polar solvents like water and alcohols).…”

Section: Aprotic Molecular Inksmentioning

confidence: 99%

Solution-based synthesis of kesterite thin film semiconductors

Todorov¹,

Hillhouse

Aazou

et al. 2020

J. Phys. Energy

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Large-scale deployment of photovoltaic modules is required to power our renewable energy future. Kesterite, Cu 2 ZnSn(S, Se) 4 , is a p-type semiconductor absorber layer with a tunable bandgap consisting of earth abundant elements, and is seen as a potential 'drop-in' replacement to Cu(In,Ga)Se 2 in thin film solar cells. Currently, the record light-to-electrical power conversion efficiency (PCE) of kesterite-based devices is 12.6%, for which the absorber layer has been solutionprocessed. This efficiency must be increased if kesterite technology is to help power the future. Therefore two questions arise: what is the best way to synthesize the film? And how to improve the device efficiency? Here, we focus on the first question from a solution-based synthesis perspective. The main strategy is to mix all the elements together initially and coat them on a surface, followed by annealing in a reactive chalcogen atmosphere to react, grow grains and sinter the film. The main difference between the methods presented here is how easily the solvent, ligands, and anions are removed. Impurities impair the ability to achieve high performance (>∼10% PCE) in kesterite devices. Hydrazine routes offer the least impurities, but have environmental and safety concerns associated with hydrazine. Aprotic and protic based molecular inks are environmentally friendlier and less toxic, but they require the removal of organic and halogen species associated with the solvent and precursors, which is challenging but possible. Nanoparticle routes consisting of kesterite (or binary chalcogenides) particles require the removal of stabilizing ligands from their surfaces. Electrodeposited layers contain few impurities but are sometimes difficult to make compositionally uniform over large areas, and for metal deposited layers, they have to go through several solid-state reaction steps to form kesterite. Hence, each method has distinct advantages and disadvantages. We review the stateof-the art of each and provide perspective on the different strategies.

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“…22 Agrawal et al used a similar solvent structure, monoamine-dithiol, resulting in a pure selenide 12.2% efficient CIGSe. 23 This was achieved in a controlled environment of a nitrogen-lled glovebox and using spin-coating which is a difficult technique to scale and therefore not industrially relevant.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Deposition and application of a Mo–N back contact diffusion barrier yielding a 12.0% efficiency solution-processed CIGS solar cell using an amine–thiol solvent system

et al. 2019

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Solution-processed sulfur depleted Cu(In, Ga)Se₂ solar cells synthesized from a monoamine–dithiol solvent mixture

Abstract: A monoamine–dithiol mixture is used to prepare homogeneous Cu(In, Ga)Se2 (CIGSe) molecular precursor solution, which yields a highly sulfur depleted CIGSe thin-film solar cell with a power conversion efficiency of 12.2%.

Cited by 59 publications

References 51 publications

Green Atmospheric Aqueous Solution Deposition for High Performance Cu₂ZnSn(S,Se)₄ Thin Film Solar Cells

Green Atmospheric Aqueous Solution Deposition for High Performance Cu₂ZnSn(S,Se)₄ Thin Film Solar Cells

Solution-based synthesis of kesterite thin film semiconductors

Deposition and application of a Mo–N back contact diffusion barrier yielding a 12.0% efficiency solution-processed CIGS solar cell using an amine–thiol solvent system

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Solution-processed sulfur depleted Cu(In, Ga)Se2 solar cells synthesized from a monoamine–dithiol solvent mixture

Abstract: A monoamine–dithiol mixture is used to prepare homogeneous Cu(In, Ga)Se2 (CIGSe) molecular precursor solution, which yields a highly sulfur depleted CIGSe thin-film solar cell with a power conversion efficiency of 12.2%.

Cited by 59 publications

References 51 publications

Green Atmospheric Aqueous Solution Deposition for High Performance Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 Thin Film Solar Cells

Green Atmospheric Aqueous Solution Deposition for High Performance Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 Thin Film Solar Cells

Solution-based synthesis of kesterite thin film semiconductors

Deposition and application of a Mo–N back contact diffusion barrier yielding a 12.0% efficiency solution-processed CIGS solar cell using an amine–thiol solvent system

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Solution-processed sulfur depleted Cu(In, Ga)Se₂ solar cells synthesized from a monoamine–dithiol solvent mixture

Green Atmospheric Aqueous Solution Deposition for High Performance Cu₂ZnSn(S,Se)₄ Thin Film Solar Cells

Green Atmospheric Aqueous Solution Deposition for High Performance Cu₂ZnSn(S,Se)₄ Thin Film Solar Cells