The electronic properties of point defects in earth-abundant photovoltaic material Zn3P2: A hybrid functional method study

The electronic properties of intrinsic and extrinsic defects in Zn3P2 are studied by density-functional theory with hybrid functional method. Our results show that undoped Zn3P2 should be intrinsically p-type with Zn vacancies as the responsible shallow acceptors. Na or Cu doping is expected to result in improved p-type conductivity as compared to intrinsic Zn3P2. S or Al doping may lead to weak n-type Zn3P2. Doping of Mg does not produce good n-type Zn3P2, consistent with experimental observations. Contradicting to conventional wisdom, an interstitial P in Zn3P2 is not a triple-hole acceptor and a P vacancy in Zn3P2 is not a triple-electron donor. Instead, we find that the interstitial P is actually a single-hole acceptor, and the P vacancy is a single-electron donor. The origins of these unusual behaviors are discussed. (C) 2013 American Institute of Physics. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4772708]