The AACVD of Cu₂FeSn(S_xSe_1−x)₄: potential environmentally benign solar cell materials

Abstract

Films of Cu2FeSn(SxSe1−x) have been deposited by aerosol assisted chemical vapour deposition using mixtures of molecular precursors.

Discovery of a Wurtzite-like Cu2FeSnSe4 Semiconductor Nanocrystal Polymorph and Implications for Related CuFeSe2 Materials

“…Indeed, a number of works have already been published that identify the thermodynamically preferred stannite I m 42 ̅ polymorph of Cu 2 FeSnSe 4 as a promising, low-toxicity solar absorber. 21,23,24,50,51 To compare the optoelectronic properties of the stannite I m 42 ̅ polymorph of Cu 2 FeSnSe 4 to the wurtzite-like Pmn2 1 polymorph, we calculated the spin-density of states for both polymorphs in their most stable antiferromagnetic configuration using the HSE06 functional (Figure 4 p and Sn-s orbitals for stannite I m 42 ̅ polymorph, while the wurtzite-like Pmn2 1 polymorph has a strong hybridization from Se-s, Se-p, and Sn-s states (Figure S8). Interestingly, while both polymorphs have low density of states (DOS) near the conduction band minimum (CBM), it is significantly lower for the wurtzite-like Pmn2 1 polymorph.…”

New Earth-Abundant Thin Film Solar Cells Based on Chalcogenides

“…So far, various methods have been reported for the preparation of CFTS absorber layers (Guan et al, 2014; Kevin et al, 2015; Khadka and Kim, 2015; Meng et al, 2015a, 2016; Chatterjee and Pal, 2017; Chen et al, 2017; Miao et al, 2017). Most of them are based on non-vacuum techniques, since they are simple, low-cost, often efficient and do not require sophisticated deposition set-up.…”

“…Both the structural quality (i.e., crystalline texture and grain size) and the carrier mobility of CFTS/CFTSe thin films improved after the sulfur addition. Kevin et al (2015) reported on CFTS, CFTSe, and CFTSSe thin films deposited by Aerosol Assisted Chemical Vapor Deposition (AACVD) at 350°C using mixtures of molecular precursors. More recently, CFTS thin films were prepared by doctor blade deposition of oxides (CuO, Fe 2 O 3 , and SnO 2 ) on glass followed by sulfurization (Chen et al, 2017) and by electrochemical deposition followed by annealing at 500–550°C (Miao et al, 2017).…”

Multinary copper-based chalcogenide nanocrystal systems from the perspective of device applications

“…96 CFTS thin lms have been reported through several synthesis techniques such as electrostatic eld assisted spray pyrolysis, aerosol assisted chemical vapor deposition, doctor blade deposition, and electrochemical deposition. [97][98][99][100] CMTS is another cost-effective p-type semiconductor that has been investigated in recent years as an absorber layer for thin lm solar cells. CMTS thin lms have been deposited on glass substrates via chemical routes.…”