Article
Energy & Fuels
Diego A. Garzon, Christian Rossi, Ishwor Khatri, Francesco Soggia, Ihsan Caha, Francis Leonard Deepak, Diego Colombara, Sascha Sadewasser
Summary: The formation of Cd-free Zn1-xSnxOy (ZTO) thin film buffer layers for CIGSe solar cells was studied using chemical bath deposition. By modifying the deposition procedure, flatter ZTO films were obtained with inhibited columnar growth. Increasing the concentration of Sn in the chemical bath resulted in a nontrivial increase in the bandgap. Using a 20% Sn concentration, the CIGSe solar cells achieved similar performance to those with a CdS buffer layer, with a maximum efficiency of 10.4% and an average efficiency of 9%.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Mariana Montoya-Gomez, Stefan Paetel, Wolfram Hempel, Ana Kanevce, Theresa Magorian Friedlmeier, Dimitrios Hariskos
Summary: Cu(In,Ga)Se2-based solar cells achieve highest efficiencies up to 23.4% by using solution-grown Zn(O,S) as the buffer layer. We test the impact of oxidative and reductive additives on the growth rate of Zn(O,S) and find that both additives can significantly increase the growth rate and reduce the consumption of reactants without compromising the performance of the solar cells.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Van Ben Chu, Daniel Siopa, Alice Debot, Damilola Adeleye, Mohit Sood, Alberto Lomuscio, Michele Melchiorre, Jerome Guillot, Nathalie Valle, Brahime El Adib, Jonathan Rommelfangen, Phillip J. Dale
Summary: Chemical bath methods for growing thin film semiconductors produce a lot of waste solvent and chemicals. This study successfully replaced the toxic chemical bath deposited CdS buffer layer with a benign inkjet-printed and annealed Zn(O,S) layer, greatly reducing solvent and chemical usage. The wetting and final performance of the Zn(O,S) layer on CIGS can be controlled by various factors, with the best device efficiency reaching 13.5% through optimization.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2021)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Mohit Sood, Poorani Gnanasambandan, Damilola Adeleye, Sudhanshu Shukla, Noureddine Adjeroud, Renaud Leturcq, Susanne Siebentritt
Summary: This study aims to reduce interface recombination and eliminate electrical barriers in Cu(In,Ga)S-2 solar cells using a combination of Zn1-x Mg(x)O and Al-doped Zn1-x Mg(x)O buffer and i-layer. Optimized buffer composition together with a suitable i-layer led to a device with 14% efficiency and an open-circuit voltage of 943 mV.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICS-ENERGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Jakapan Chantana, Yu Kawano, Abdurashid Mavlonov, Takashi Minemoto
Summary: Flexible, lightweight, and Cd-free CIGSSe solar cells on stainless steel substrates were fabricated using special buffer and TCO layers. By optimizing the material composition, the photovoltaic performances of the devices can be improved, and carrier recombination can be effectively reduced.
ACS APPLIED ENERGY MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Shuaiqi Han, Jingjing Jiang, Xinge Liu, Bingyan Li, Kangjie Zhang, Shasha Hao, Shaotang Yu, Weibo Yan, Hao Xin
Summary: This study demonstrates the use of a chemical-bath-deposited zinc sulfoxide buffer layer in solution-processed copper indium gallium selenide solar cells. By optimizing the deposition time and annealing process, a dense and uniform zinc sulfoxide buffer layer was achieved. The resulting solar cells showed a high power conversion efficiency of 12.0%.
ACS APPLIED ENERGY MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Dirk Hauschild, Mary Blankenship, Amandee Hua, Ralph Steininger, Patrick Eraerds, Thomas Niesen, Thomas Dalibor, Wanli Yang, Clemens Heske, Lothar Weinhardt
Summary: The chemical and electronic structure of the interface between a sputter-deposited Zn(O,S) buffer layer and an industrial Cu(In,Ga)(S,Se)(2) (CIGSSe) absorber for thin-film solar cells was investigated using various spectroscopic techniques. It was found that the CIGSSe absorber surface band gap significantly increased compared to bulk-sensitive methods. The measurements also showed the presence of S-Zn and S-O bonds in the Zn(O,S) layer, and an enhanced carrier separation at the interface.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Alice Debot, Van Ben Chu, Damilola Adeleye, Jerome Guillot, Didier Arl, Michele Melchiorre, Phillip J. Dale
Summary: In this study, an environmentally friendly inkjet-printed indium sulfide (In2S3) buffer layer was developed using benign chemistry and processing conditions. A pre-synthesized indium-thiourea compound was dissolved in a mixture of water and ethanol, and then inkjet printed onto a Cu(In,Ga)(S,Se)(2) absorber. The resulting buffer layer showed good coverage on the surface of the absorber layer, leading to improved device performance.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Haoyu Xu, Haifeng Gao, Yujiao Ma, Qing Zhou, Yuzhou Sun, Chao Gao, Wei Yu
Summary: The efficiency of CZTSSe solar cell is improved by adding manganese chloride in the deposition solution of the CdS buffer layer, and the mechanisms behind the experimental results are investigated. The decreased thickness of the CdS buffer layer reduces parasitic absorption loss and increases the short-circuit current density of the solar cell. The incorporation of Mn in CZTSSe reduces defects and carrier recombination, leading to an improved open-circuit voltage.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Gi Soon Park, SeungJe Lee, Da-Seul Kim, Sang Yeun Park, Jai Hyun Koh, Da Hye Won, Phillip Lee, Young Rag Do, Byoung Koun Min
Summary: Ultrathin solar cells (UTSCs) have attracted attention due to their low-cost production and potential applications. To achieve high efficiency, passivation of the rear-interface is crucial, especially for thinner absorbers. This study introduces amorphous TiO2 layers as passivating contacts for solution-processed UTSCs, which not only passivate defective rear-interfaces but also provide excellent electrical conduction. The amorphous nature of TiO2 layers enables desirable ohmic conduction over the entire area without any contact openings.
ADVANCED ENERGY MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Ningjun Zhang, Jingsong Sun, Jiang Sheng, Weichuang Yang, Xiangying Xue, Luyan Zhang, Xuan Sha, Zhiqin Ying, Chunhui Shou, Xi Yang, Jichun Ye
Summary: Transparent conductive oxide (TCO) films are widely used for high-performance perovskite solar cells (PSCs) and tandem solar cells. However, the deposition of TCO film can cause damage and decrease efficiency. In this study, an ultrathin chromium oxide (CrOx) buffer layer is introduced to prevent damage and improve performance of the device. The addition of the CrOx buffer layer leads to enhanced conductivity and tailored energy level alignment, resulting in champion power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 19.06% for st-PSCs and relatively high PCE of 27.48% for perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells.
MATERIALS TODAY ENERGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Akram Abdalla, Mati Danilson, Souhaib Oueslati, Maris Pilvet, Sergei Bereznev
Summary: Amorphous Zn(O,Se) was used as a buffer layer with Cu(In,Ga)Se2 absorber in thin film solar cells, replacing toxic CdS buffer layer and successfully improving the photoconversion efficiency and performance of the devices.
MATERIALS SCIENCE IN SEMICONDUCTOR PROCESSING
(2021)
Review
Chemistry, Physical
Sunil Suresh, Alexander R. Uhl
Summary: Photovoltaic technologies provide a sustainable solution to increasing energy demands, with chalcopyrite thin-film solar cells exhibiting high efficiency but typically fabricated using vacuum deposition methods. Research is shifting towards solution processing techniques to improve material usage, increase throughput, and lower commercialization barriers, but performance of current devices falls short of vacuum-processed counterparts.
ADVANCED ENERGY MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Electrochemistry
Behzad Mahmoudi, Francesco Caddeo, Titus Lindenberg, Thomas Schneider, Torsten Hoelscher, Roland Scheer, A. Wouter Maijenburg
Summary: In this study, polycrystalline Cu-Ga-Se films with different compositions were prepared to investigate the effect of the Cu/Ga ratio on crystal structure, morphology, and PEC performance. Remarkable saturated photocurrent densities were observed for films with Cu/Ga ratios of 0.85 and 0.33, covering a significant portion of the maximum theoretical photocurrents for materials with band gaps of 1.68 eV and 1.85 eV, respectively. Additionally, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) confirmed the consistency between the difference in onset potential and flat-band potential between the two films.
ELECTROCHIMICA ACTA
(2021)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Bowen Liu, Xinan Shi, Wei Shao, Jiaxin Gao, Chenxi Zhao, Fuyan Chen, Dongdong Shen, Bingsuo Zou, Daocheng Pan
Summary: A novel and green ionic liquid-assisted ink is developed for the fabrication of highly efficient CIGSSe solar cells by inkjet printing. Compared to the conventional vacuum-based deposition and spin-coating solution methods, inkjet printing technology can remarkably improve the material utilization of copper indium gallium sulfur selenium (CIGS) and achieve a flat and continuous deposition of CIGS thin film. The inkjet-printed CIGSSe solar cells show an encouraging power conversion efficiency of 15.22%.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Zhenlong Zhao, Mruthunjaya Uddi, Nikolai Tsvetkov, Bilge Yildiz, Ahmed F. Ghoniem
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY C
(2017)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Zhenlong Zhao, Mruthunjaya Uddi, Nikolai Tsvetkov, Bilge Yildiz, Ahmed F. Ghoniem
PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY CHEMICAL PHYSICS
(2017)
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Yu. F. Ivanov, A. A. Klopotov, A. I. Potekaev, A. P. Laskovnev, A. D. Teresov, N. A. Tsvetkov, E. A. Petrikova, O. V. Krysina, O. V. Ivanova, V. V. Shugurov, A. A. Shegidevich, V. V. Kulagina
RUSSIAN PHYSICS JOURNAL
(2017)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Byeong Cheul Moon, Jung Hyo Park, Dong Ki Lee, Nikolai Tsvetkov, Ilwoo Ock, Kyung Min Choi, Jeung Ku Kang
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Yan Chen, Dillon D. Fong, F. William Herbert, Julien Rault, Jean-Pascal Rueff, Nikolai Tsvetkov, Bilge Yildiz
CHEMISTRY OF MATERIALS
(2018)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Nikolai Tsvetkov, Liudmila Larina, Jeung Ku Kang, Oleg Shevaleevskiy
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Nikolai Tsvetkov, Anna Nikolskaia, Oleg Shevaleevskiy, Sergey Kozlov, Marina Vildanova, Byeong Cheul Moon, Jeung Ku Kang, Liudmila Larina
APPLIED SURFACE SCIENCE
(2020)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Muhammad Rehan, Ara Cho, Awet Mana Amare, Kihwan Kim, Jae Ho Yun, Jun-Sik Cho, Joo Hyung Park, Jihye Gwak, Donghyeop Shin
Summary: Sodium alkali doping is an effective way to improve the performance of CZTSe devices by passivating native defects. Various methods have been considered to incorporate sodium in CZTSe films, leading to a significant increase in sodium content regardless of the incorporation method.
SOLAR ENERGY MATERIALS AND SOLAR CELLS
(2021)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Kihwan Kim, Chanwon Jung, Kanghoon Yim, Inyoung Jeong, Donghyeop Shin, Inchan Hwang, Soomin Song, Seung Kyu Ahn, Young-Joo Eo, Ara Cho, Jun-Sik Cho, Joo Hyung Park, Pyuck-Pa Choi, Jae Ho Yun, Jihye Gwak
Summary: This study uses atom probe tomography to characterize high-quality Cu(In,Ga)Se-2 (CIGS) films on flexible substrates and reveals the unique characteristics of grain boundaries (GBs) in CIGS and the correlations between matrix elements and alkali dopants. The study identifies various compositional fluctuations at GBs, with [Cu-poor and Se/In,Ga-rich] GBs being more common than [Cu-rich and Se/In,Ga-poor] ones. In addition, the study finds anti-correlations between Cu and other matrix elements that are associated with the degree of alkali segregation at GBs.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2022)
Article
Thermodynamics
Nikolay Aleksandrovich Tsvetkov, Ujriy Olegovich Krivoshein, Aleksandr Vital'yevich Tolstykh, Andrey Nikolaevich Khutornoi, Stanislav Boldyryev
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Jiayue Wang, Sean R. Bishop, Lixin Sun, Qiyang Lu, Gulin Vardar, Roland Bliem, Nikolai Tsvetkov, Ethan J. Crumlin, Jean-Jacques Gallet, Fabrice Bournel, Iradwikanari Waluyo, Bilge Yildiz
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY A
(2019)
Proceedings Paper
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
D. V. Lychagin, A. V. Chumaevskii, M. P. Kalashnikov, S. V. Fortuna, L. L. Lychagina, N. A. Tsvetkov
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ADVANCED MATERIALS WITH HIERARCHICAL STRUCTURE FOR NEW TECHNOLOGIES AND RELIABLE STRUCTURES
(2018)
Proceedings Paper
Physics, Applied
E. A. Alfyorova, D. V. Lychagin, L. L. Lychagina, N. A. Tsvetkov
PROCEEDINGS OF THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON ADVANCED MATERIALS WITH HIERARCHICAL STRUCTURE FOR NEW TECHNOLOGIES AND RELIABLE STRUCTURES 2017 (AMHS'17)
(2017)
Proceedings Paper
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
A. A. Klopotov, E. A. Petrikova, Yu F. Ivanov, A. D. Teresov, N. N. Cherenda, V. V. Uglov, N. A. Tsvetkov
5TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE: MODERN TECHNOLOGIES FOR NON-DESTRUCTIVE TESTING
(2017)
Proceedings Paper
Physics, Applied
Lyudmila Naumova, Nikolai Gorlenko, Yurii Sarkisov, Nikolai Tsvetkov, Tat'yana Shepelenko, Lyudmila Chukhlomina
YOUTH, SCIENCE, SOLUTIONS: IDEAS AND PROSPECTS (YSSIP-2016)
(2017)