A Progress Review on Challenges and Strategies of Flexible Cu2ZnSn(S, Se)4 Solar Cells

Flexible Cu2ZnSn(S, Se)(4) (CZTSSe) solar cells have the advantages of nontoxicity and low cost, showing great commercial potential in wearable devices, indoor photovoltaics, and building-integrated photovoltaics. Currently, the performances of flexible CZTSSe devices still faces a huge gap on the commercialization level. Herein, the development of flexible CZTSSe devices to provide the challenges is summarized and possible strategies are explored. During the past ten years of research, flexible CZTSSe devices' efficiency has increased to 11.19% through studies of flexible substrates, residual stress, deposition processes, and physics. However, the improvement of efficiency is facing large challenges in severe open-circuit voltage loss and low fill factor. After solving the issues by the strategies of deep-level defect passivation and interface optimization, the efficiency of flexible CZTSSe solar cells is expected to reach the commercial level.

Automated summary

Flexible Cu2ZnSn(S, Se)(4) (CZTSSe) solar cells have the advantages of nontoxicity and low cost, showing great commercial potential in wearable devices, indoor photovoltaics, and building-integrated photovoltaics. However, the performances of flexible CZTSSe devices still faces a huge gap on the commercialization level. This article summarizes the development and challenges of flexible CZTSSe devices, and explores possible strategies.