4.6 Article

Growth and device properties of ALD deposited ZnO films for CIGS solar cells

Journal

Publisher

ELSEVIER SCI LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.mssp.2020.105406

Keywords

ALD method; I-ZnO layer; CIGS absorber; Thin film solar cells

Funding

  1. Technology Development Program to Solve Climate Changes of the National Research Foundation (NRF) - Ministry of Science, ICT & Future Planning [NRF2016M1A2A2936759, NRF-2017M1A2A2087577]
  2. Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy(MOTIE)
  3. Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology(KIAT) through the National Innovation Cluster RD program [P0006704]

Ask authors/readers for more resources

The properties of atomic layer deposited ZnO thin films in the temperature range of 80-180 degrees C were studied, showing an increase in thickness and grain sizes with temperature. The ZnO films exhibited preferred crystal orientation along the (100) plane, except for those grown at 80 degrees C. The electrical resistivity decreased, while mobility and carrier concentrations increased with temperature. CIGS solar cells using a 70 nm-thick ZnO film deposited at 100 degrees C showed the best device characteristics.
We report the structural, optical, and electrical properties of an atomic layer deposited ZnO thin films in the temperature range of 80-180 degrees C. Also, the device characteristics of the CIGS solar cells with the ALD-ZnO buffer layers were investigated. The thickness and grain sizes of the ZnO were increased with an increase of temperature. All ZnO films exhibited the preferred crystal orientation along the (100) plane except the films grown at 80 degrees C showed along the (002) plane. The optical energy band gap of the ZnO was decreased from 3.30 to 3.29 eV with an increase of temperature. The electrical resistivity decreased from 6.2 to 5.6 x 10-3 Omega cm, while the mobility and the carrier concentrations increased from 1.7 to 21.6 cm(2)/V.s and from 6.0 x 1018 to 2.0 x 1020 cm(-3), respectively. The fabricated CIGS solar cells using a 70 nm-thick ZnO film deposited at 100 degrees C, exhibited the best device characteristics of the FF, Jsc, and PCE as 63.48%, 28.84 mA/cm(2), and 8.59%, respectively.

Authors

I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.

Reviews

Primary Rating

4.6
Not enough ratings

Secondary Ratings

Novelty
-
Significance
-
Scientific rigor
-
Rate this paper

Recommended

Article Energy & Fuels

Enhanced electrical conductivity of transparent electrode using metal microfiber networks for gridless thin-film solar cells

Dae-Hyung Cho, Hong Seok Jo, Woo-Jung Lee, Tae-Gun Kim, Byungha Shin, Sam S. Yoon, Yong-Duck Chung

SOLAR ENERGY MATERIALS AND SOLAR CELLS (2019)

Article Engineering, Electrical & Electronic

Role of hydrazine in the enhanced growth of zinc sulfide thin films using chemical bath deposition for Cu(In,Ga)Se2 solar cell application

Jeha Kim, Cha Ran Lee, Vinaya Kumar Arepalli, Sung-Jun Kim, Woo-Jung Lee, Yong-Duck Chung

MATERIALS SCIENCE IN SEMICONDUCTOR PROCESSING (2020)

Article Chemistry, Physical

Unraveling interface characteristics of Zn(O,S)/Cu(In,Ga)Se2 at nanoscale: Enhanced hole transport by tuning band offsets

Juran Kim, Jayeong Kim, Eunji Ko, Ha Kyung Park, Seokhyun Yoon, Dae-Hyung Cho, Woo-Jung Lee, Yong-Duck Chung, William Jo

APPLIED SURFACE SCIENCE (2020)

Article Energy & Fuels

Color tuning in Cu(In,Ga)Se2 thin-film solar cells by controlling optical interference in transparent front layers

Dae-Hyung Cho, Woo-Jung Lee, Myeong-Eon Kim, Byungha Shin, Yong-Duck Chung

PROGRESS IN PHOTOVOLTAICS (2020)

Article Chemistry, Physical

Ultrafast wavelength-dependent carrier dynamics related to metastable defects in Cu(In,Ga)Se2 solar cells with chemically deposited Zn(O,S) buffer layer

Woo-Jung Lee, Dae-Hyung Cho, Jung Min Bae, Myeong Eon Kim, Jaehun Park, Yong-Duck Chung

NANO ENERGY (2020)

Article Materials Science, Multidisciplinary

Work Function Tuning of Zinc-Tin Oxide Thin Films Using High-Density O2 Plasma Treatment

Young-Hee Joo, Jae-Hyung Wi, Woo-Jung Lee, Yong-Duck Chung, Dae-Hyung Cho, Saewon Kang, Doo-Seung Um, Chang-Il Kim

COATINGS (2020)

Article Materials Science, Multidisciplinary

Application of Quantum Dot Down-Conversion Layer in Thin-Film Solar Cells to Increase Short-Wavelength Spectral Response

Jong Hun Yu, Dae-Hyung Cho, Woo-Jung Lee, Woo-Ju Kim, Seong Jun Kang, Yong-Duck Chung

Summary: By introducing quantum dots (QDs) with a CdSe/ZnS core-shell structure into Cu(In,Ga)Se-2 (CIGS) thin-film solar cells, the short-wavelength spectral response is enhanced, leading to an increase in short-circuit current density and efficiency.

ECS JOURNAL OF SOLID STATE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (2021)

Article Crystallography

Terahertz Emission and Ultrafast Carrier Dynamics of Ar-Ion Implanted Cu(In,Ga)Se2 Thin Films

Chul Kang, Gyuseok Lee, Woo-Jung Lee, Dae-Hyung Cho, Inhee Maeng, Yong-Duck Chung, Chul-Sik Kee

Summary: Ar-ion implantation increases the THz emission and carrier dynamics of CIGS films.

CRYSTALS (2021)

Article Nanoscience & Nanotechnology

Evolution of Morphological and Chemical Properties at p-n Junction of Cu(In,Ga)Se2 Solar Cells with Zn(O,S) Buffer Layer as a Function of KF Postdeposition Treatment Time

Woo-Jung Lee, Dae-Hyung Cho, Jae-Hyung Wi, Jong Hun Yu, Woo-Ju Kim, Chul Kang, Seong Jun Kang, Yong-Duck Chung

Summary: The highest efficiency of CIGS solar cells was achieved at a KF PDT process time of 50s, where the K-In-Se phase formed is beneficial for solar cell performance. Additionally, photocarrier transport is more effective at low barrier heights.

ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES (2021)

Article Chemistry, Physical

The origin of the enhanced photoresponsivity of the phototransistor with ZnO1-xSx single active layer

Jong Hun Yu, Woo-Jung Lee, Dae-Hyung Cho, Woo-Ju Kim, Seong Jun Kang, Yong-Duck Chung

Summary: By adjusting the S-to-O ratio, we used zinc oxysulfide (ZnO1-xSx) as a single active layer in a phototransistor. The incorporation of S atoms in the ZnO1-xSx layer improved the electrical properties and photoresponsivity, particularly in the UV and visible regions. The phototransistor with ZnO0.9S0.1 exhibited the highest performance, with high photoresponsivity and photosensitivity for 450 nm light. The increase in oxygen vacancies due to the incorporation of S atoms was identified as the mechanism behind the improvement in photoresponsivity.

APPLIED SURFACE SCIENCE (2022)

Article Energy & Fuels

Implementation of various colors in Cu(In,Ga)Se2 thin-film solar cells by diffractive nanostructures

Woo-Ju Kim, Dae-Hyung Cho, Sung-Hoon Hong, Woo-Jung Lee, Tae-Ha Hwang, Joo Yeon Kim, Yong -Duck Chung

Summary: With the increasing use of building-integrated photovoltaic technology, diffractive nanostructures are used to create colorful solar cells that blend in with their surroundings. Various colors are produced on Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGS) thin-film solar cells using nanoscale imprinting and transfer lithography methods. The material types and pattern shapes of the nanostructures have an impact on the optical properties of the solar cells. SiO2 demonstrates higher short-circuit current density (JSC) and color quality compared to TiO2.

SOLAR ENERGY MATERIALS AND SOLAR CELLS (2023)

Article Engineering, Electrical & Electronic

Ultrafast Photoexcited-Carrier Behavior Induced by Hydrogen Ion Irradiation of a Cu(In,Ga)Se2 Thin Film in the Terahertz Region

Woo-Jung Lee, Gyuseok Lee, Dae-Hyung Cho, Kang Chul, Nosoung Myoung, C. S. Kee, Yong-Duck Chung

Summary: Investigating the effects of H+ ion irradiation on a chalcogenide Cu(In,Ga)Se-2 (CIGS) thin film revealed a conversion from p- to n-type conductivity, induced by strong surface band bending and ultrafast behavior of photocarriers. The use of optical pump THz probe spectroscopy further showed the ultrafast photocarrier dynamics at surface and bulk defect states, indicating H+ ion irradiation pacifies Cu vacancy defects while generating new defect states.

IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON TERAHERTZ SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (2021)

Article Chemistry, Physical

Reactively sputtered Zn(O,S) buffer layers for controlling band alignment of Cu(In,Ga)Se2 thin-film solar cell interface

Dae-Hyung Cho, Woo-Jung Lee, Myeong Eon Kim, Kihwan Kim, Jae Ho Yun, Yong-Duck Chung

JOURNAL OF ALLOYS AND COMPOUNDS (2020)

Article Chemistry, Physical

Sodium-assisted passivation of grain boundaries and defects in Cu2ZnSnSe4 thin films

Juran Kim, Gee Yeong Kim, Thi Thu Nguyen Trang, Seokhyun Yoon, Yoon-Koo Kim, Seung-Yong Lee, Miyoung Kim, Dae-Hyung Cho, Yong-Duck Chung, Je-Ho Lee, Maeng-Je Seong, William Jo

PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY CHEMICAL PHYSICS (2020)

Article Engineering, Electrical & Electronic

First principle examination of two dimensional rare-earth metal germanide halides Y2GeX2 (X = Cl, Br, I) for thermoelectric applications

Nishi Mehak, Bindu Rani, Aadil Fayaz Wani, Shakeel Ahmad Khandy, Ajay Singh Verma, Atif Mossad Ali, M. A. Sayed, Shobhna Dhiman, Kulwinder Kaur

Summary: In this study, the electronic, structural, and thermoelectric properties of newly designed layered rare-earth metal germanide halides were investigated. The materials showed promising thermoelectric performance, making them suitable candidates for energy harvesting in thermoelectric applications.

MATERIALS SCIENCE IN SEMICONDUCTOR PROCESSING (2024)

Article Engineering, Electrical & Electronic

High-performance blue light photodetector based on PANI/ CdS heterojunction

Devidas I. Halge, Vijaykiran N. Narwade, Nabeel M. S. Kaawash, Pooja M. Khanzode, Sohel J. Shaikh, Jagdish W. Dadge, Prashant S. Alegaonkar, Rajeshkumar S. Hyam, Kashinath A. Bogle

Summary: This study presents the design and fabrication of a high-performance blue light photodetector using an n-type cadmium sulfide (CdS) thin film and a p-type polyaniline (PANI). The photodetector demonstrates exceptional performance characteristics, including high responsivity, detectivity, and sensitivity, along with rapid response time and rectification behavior. The research represents a significant advancement in the field of high-performance photodetectors.

MATERIALS SCIENCE IN SEMICONDUCTOR PROCESSING (2024)

Article Engineering, Electrical & Electronic

Investigating surface wear characteristics of single-crystal SiC based on metal electrochemical corrosion

Da Hu, Jiabin Lu, Qiusheng Yan, Yingrong Luo, Ziyuan Luo

Summary: This study introduces a chemical mechanical polishing technique based on metal electrochemical corrosion for single-crystal SiC to address the environmental pollution caused by the polishing solution in chemical mechanical polishing. Wear experiments were conducted to investigate the wear properties of SiC C-surface under different grinding ball materials and solutions. The proposed mechanism of material removal in single-crystal SiC via metal electrochemical corrosion was discussed.

MATERIALS SCIENCE IN SEMICONDUCTOR PROCESSING (2024)

Article Engineering, Electrical & Electronic

Numerical analysis and experimental research on the removal of CuO particles from monocrystalline silicon surfaces by picosecond laser

Lifang Mei, Long Lin, Dongbing Yan, Yu Liang, Yu Wu, Shuixuan Chen

Summary: This paper investigates the removal of CuO particles from silicon wafer surfaces using a picosecond laser. Numerical calculations and experimental research were conducted, and a thermal-stress coupled finite element model was established. The results show that as the laser energy density increases, the removal rate of CuO particles initially increases and then decreases, while the roughness of the silicon substrate decreases and then increases.

MATERIALS SCIENCE IN SEMICONDUCTOR PROCESSING (2024)

Article Engineering, Electrical & Electronic

Effect of Sn doping on low-temperature growth of Ge epilayers on half-metallic Co2FeSi

Michihiro Yamada, Shuhei Kusumoto, Atsuya Yamada, Kentarou Sawano, Kohei Hamaya

Summary: In this study, we demonstrated the low-temperature growth of a Ge layer on a Co-based Heusler alloy via Sn doping, which improved the magnetic properties and spin signal.

MATERIALS SCIENCE IN SEMICONDUCTOR PROCESSING (2024)

Article Engineering, Electrical & Electronic

Construction and photocatalytic performance of delafossite-type CuAlO2/ CuGaO2 heterostructure

Xiang-Long Wei, Bao-Feng Shan, Zong-Yan Zhao

Summary: This study synthesized and characterized a CuAlO2/CuGaO2 heterostructure and evaluated its photocatalytic performance. The heterostructure exhibited superior performance compared to individual CuAlO2 and CuGaO2 photocatalysts, with increased carrier concentration, enhanced redox capabilities, superior electrochemical stability, and reduced interfacial resistance. Photocatalytic experiments demonstrated the remarkable oxidation potential and notable reduction activity of the heterostructure, outperforming CuAlO2 and CuGaO2 in degradation rates and hydrogen production rates, respectively. These findings highlight the superior performance and broad applicability of the CuAlO2/CuGaO2 heterostructure in various photocatalytic reactions.

MATERIALS SCIENCE IN SEMICONDUCTOR PROCESSING (2024)

Article Engineering, Electrical & Electronic

Highlighting the role of 3C-SiC in the performance optimization of (Al,Ga) N-based High-Electron mobility transistors

Micka Bah, Daniel Alquier, Marie Lesecq, Nicolas Defrance, Damien Valente, Thi Huong Ngo, Eric Frayssinet, Marc Portail, Jean-Claude De Jaeger, Yvon Cordier

Summary: This study investigates the AlN nucleation layer issue in GaN high frequency telecommunication and power switching systems fabricated after heteroepitaxy on Silicon or Silicon Carbide. It is shown that using 3C-SiC as an intermediate layer can significantly decrease RF propagation losses. Measurements and analyses demonstrate that dopant diffusion into the 3C-SiC pseudo-substrate is confined beneath the interface, and a slightly conductive zone is present beneath the AlN/3C-SiC interface, explaining the low propagation losses obtained for the devices. This work highlights the importance and efficiency of the 3C-SiC intermediate layer as a pseudo-substrate.

MATERIALS SCIENCE IN SEMICONDUCTOR PROCESSING (2024)

Article Engineering, Electrical & Electronic

Variation in properties of double-walled zigzag and armchair silicon nanotubes depending on SW defects and applied electric fields by SCC-DFTB method

Shuang Wang, Lijun Wu, Zhiqing Wang, Ziyue Qian

Summary: The geometric structure and electrical properties of zigzag and armchair DWSiNT perfect tubes with different Stone-Wales defects were simulated using the SCC-DFTB method. It was found that the atomic arrangement, stability, energy gap, and charge distribution strongly depend on the type of tube. The effects of strong and weak electric fields on the tubes were also investigated, showing different impact on stability and energy gap. These findings have implications for future experimental studies.

MATERIALS SCIENCE IN SEMICONDUCTOR PROCESSING (2024)

Article Engineering, Electrical & Electronic

Enhanced self-driven ultraviolet photodetection performance of high-k Ta2O5/GaN heterostructure

Nanda Kumar Reddy Nallabala, Sunil Singh Kushvaha, Sambasivam Sangaraju, Venkata Krishnaiah Kummara

Summary: This study focuses on the preparation and performance of MIS-type high-k dielectric oxide-based UV photodetectors. The researchers found that the Au/Ta2O5/GaN devices prepared on Ta2O5/GaN heterojunction with post-annealing exhibited improved photoresponsivity, EQE, and rise/fall times. This improvement is attributed to the optimized band configuration of the Ta2O5/GaN heterostructure and the effect of post-annealing on photogenerated charge carriers.

MATERIALS SCIENCE IN SEMICONDUCTOR PROCESSING (2024)

Article Engineering, Electrical & Electronic

Silicon-carbide-based MEMS for gas detection applications

Jean-Francois Michaud, Marc Portail, Daniel Alquier, Dominique Certon, Isabelle Dufour

Summary: This paper reviews the use of MEMS devices without sensitive layers in gas detection applications. These devices can measure a physical property of the gas to determine its concentration, and have the advantages of generality and high detection limits.

MATERIALS SCIENCE IN SEMICONDUCTOR PROCESSING (2024)

Article Engineering, Electrical & Electronic

High performance resistive random access memory based on Ag/TiO2 Nanorods/FTO for image recognition applications

Kanyu Yang, Chaojie Shi, Ruizhao Tian, Haoyue Deng, Jie He, Yangyang Qi, Zhengchun Yang, Jinshi Zhao, Zhen Fan, Jun Liu

Summary: This study investigates the electrical and synaptic properties of Ag/TiO2 nanorod/FTO-based RRAM devices, focusing on the impact of different seed layer thicknesses on nanorod thickness and RRAM performance. The devices show remarkable achievements in terms of endurance, self-compliance, and resistance switching ratio. The switching mechanism is attributed to space-charge-limited conduction resulting from electron trapping in oxygen vacancy traps. The devices also maintain stable synaptic properties even after undergoing multiple cycles of long-term potentiation and depression.

MATERIALS SCIENCE IN SEMICONDUCTOR PROCESSING (2024)

Article Engineering, Electrical & Electronic

Non-destructive mapping of electrical properties of semi-insulating compound semiconductor wafers using terahertz time-domain spectroscopy

Karthickraj Muthuramalingam, Wei-Chih Wang

Summary: This study presents a non-destructive approach using terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS) to estimate the electrical properties of semi-insulating compound semiconductors. The study successfully measures the resistivity and carrier concentration of semi-insulating Silicon Carbide (SiC) and Indium Phosphide (InP) wafers using THz-TDS in transmission mode. The simplified Drude model and the Nelder-Mead algorithm are employed to estimate the electrical properties, and the results are in accordance with the manufacturer specifications. The feasibility of non-destructive mapping of the electrical properties is demonstrated, offering a promising tomographic inspection approach for online monitoring.

MATERIALS SCIENCE IN SEMICONDUCTOR PROCESSING (2024)

Article Engineering, Electrical & Electronic

Optimization of rear-side passivation for enhancing the performance of bifacial PERC plus solar cells

Pengfei Wei, Rui Tong, Xiaofeng Liu, Yao Wei, Yongan Zhang, Xu Liu, Jian Dai, Haipeng Yin, Dongming Liu

Summary: This study investigates the influence of SiNx and SiOxNy as rear-side passivation films on the performance of PERC+ cells. SiNx film is found to have better passivation performance and resistance to aluminum paste erosion, while SiOxNy film exhibits better optical performance. By designing multi-layer SiNx/SiOxNy/SiNx stacks, the cells' efficiency and bifaciality are significantly improved.

MATERIALS SCIENCE IN SEMICONDUCTOR PROCESSING (2024)

Article Engineering, Electrical & Electronic

Cobalt-doped β-Ni(OH)2 electrode fabricated by in-situ chemical corrosion for photo-assisted supercapacitor with low-temperature operation

Shuangting Ruan, Xiaolan Li, Wen Cui, Zhihui Zhang, Zhihui Xu, Huanqi Cao, Shougen Yin, Shishuai Sun

Summary: Integrating photosensitive electrode materials can effectively improve the low temperature tolerance and enhance energy density and power density. The surface morphology reconstruction technique can increase the active surface area and improve electrolyte contact, leading to higher specific capacity. Additionally, the electrodes demonstrate excellent photoelectric and photothermal conversion abilities, allowing the supercapacitor to maintain high energy density even at low temperatures.

MATERIALS SCIENCE IN SEMICONDUCTOR PROCESSING (2024)

Review Engineering, Electrical & Electronic

CuInS2 and CuInS2-based nanostructures as photocatalysts

Ashmalina Rahman, James Robert Jennings, Mohammad Mansoob Khan

Summary: This review provides a comprehensive overview of the synthesis and applications of nanostructured CuInS2 in photocatalytic applications. Various strategies, including the introduction of dopants, surface decoration, and heterojunction formation, have been summarized to improve the photocatalytic performance of CuInS2. However, scientific challenges such as the high carrier recombination rate limit the broad application of CuInS2.

MATERIALS SCIENCE IN SEMICONDUCTOR PROCESSING (2024)