Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Subhash Pandharkar, Yogesh Hase, Shruti Shah, Vidya Doiphode, Ashish Waghmare, Ashvini Punde, Pratibha Shinde, Swati Rahane, Bharat Bade, Somnath Ladhane, Mohit Prasad, Shashikant P. Patole, Sandesh Jadkar
Summary: In this study, CZTS thin films were fabricated using a vacuum deposition technique with a stacked metallic layer. The number of metal stacking layers was found to have a significant impact on the film's response to light.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Kaushlendra Pandey, Bhaskar Chandra Mohanty
Summary: The study demonstrated the growth of phase pure kesterite CZTS thin films by manipulating the target composition and post-sulfurization process. Optimal conditions for phase pure CZTS films were found to be sulfurization at 500 degrees C for 60 min with 1.0 g of sulfur flakes. High temperature or shorter dwell time resulted in the presence of secondary phases and smaller grain size microstructure in the films.
Article
Materials Science, Ceramics
Arslan Ashfaq, Sofia Tahir, Ubaid Ur Rehman, Adnan Ali, Khalid Mehmood, Fareeha Ashfaq, Waqas Ahmad, Khushi Muhammad Khan, M. Haneef, H. M. Shammas Mushtaq, Nasir Amin, Rabia Saeed, Kainat Shabbir
Summary: Two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenide semiconductors (TMDCs) like MoS2 are popular as thermoelectric materials due to their abundance, non-toxicity, and good performance. In this study, MoS2 thin films were prepared by sputtering and post-sulfurization at different temperatures, and characterized using XRD, Raman spectroscopy, and SEM. The results show that the enhancement of the Seebeck coefficient and electrical conductivity in the MoS2 thin films is attributed to the improved crystal structure of the 2H phase, which leads to increased carrier mobility.
CERAMICS INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Ilias Efthimiopoulos, Tim Kullmey, Sergio Speziale, Anna S. Pakhomova, Marcel Quennet, Beate Paulus, Anna Ritscher, Martin Lerch
Summary: The researchers investigated the high-pressure structural and vibrational behavior of the disordered kesterite-type Cu2ZnSnS4 compound at ambient temperature. They found a clear structural transition to a GeSb-type phase close to 15 GPa, along with a change in compressibility rate at about 8 GPa. Upon decompression, a disordered zinc blende/sphalerite structure is recovered.
APPLIED PHYSICS A-MATERIALS SCIENCE & PROCESSING
(2021)
Article
Physics, Condensed Matter
Y. Jayasree, Y. B. Kishore Kumar, G. Suresh Babu, P. Uday Bhaskar
Summary: In this study, CZTS thin films were successfully prepared using a hybrid chemical method, with a process involving sequential growth of SnS and ZnS layers followed by conversion to CuxS and then CZTS. XRD analysis and Raman spectra confirmed the formation of CZTS phase with a band gap of 1.42 eV and p-type nature of the films.
PHYSICA B-CONDENSED MATTER
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Ceramics
Arslan Ashfaq, A. Ali, K. Mahmood, Ubaid Ur Rehman, S. Tahir, N. Amin, W. Ahmad, Rana Naveed Aslam, Murtza Arshad, Kamran Rasheed
Summary: This study investigates the effects of Al doping on the structural, morphological, and thermoelectric properties of Cu2ZnSnS4, finding that higher Al concentrations lead to improved electrical conductivity and Seebeck coefficient, resulting in a noticeable enhancement of the power factor. Additionally, the increase in grain size with the doping of larger radius atoms contributes to the improvement in carrier mobility and electrical conductivity. The Al-doped sample with 4% Al content achieved a significantly higher power factor value compared to pure CZTS.
CERAMICS INTERNATIONAL
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
V. D. Moreno-Regino, R. Castanedo-Perez, J. Marquez-Marin, G. Torres-Delgado
Summary: In this study, CZTS films were prepared by the low-cost technique of spray pyrolysis, and their properties were investigated after a novel thermal treatment. The results showed that the crystalline quality and electrical resistivity of the CZTS films were significantly improved after the treatment, without substantial loss of sulfur concentration. The CZTS films prepared at a temperature of 400 degrees Celsius exhibited the best properties.
JOURNAL OF ALLOYS AND COMPOUNDS
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Neha Kumari, Jitendra Kumar, Sarang Ingole
Summary: This study investigated the morphological and optical properties of Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) thin films under sulfurization at different partial pressures of sulfur-vapor. The controlled growth and morphological evolution of the films under various conditions were observed.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Fang- Lai, Jui-Fu Yang, Jia-En Li, Yu-Chao Hsu, Shou-Yi Kuo
Summary: In this study, the nano-metallic precursor was modified to suppress the generation of SnS2 secondary phase and improve the thin film's uniformity and quality simultaneously. The CZTS bifacial solar cells prepared using this method showed significantly improved junction-rectifying characteristics with an efficiency of 1.59%. This proposed method to remove SnS2 is effective, simple, and environmentally friendly.
Article
Materials Science, Ceramics
Jiangtao Xu, Jing Yang, Shouxiang Jiang, Songmin Shang
Summary: The study investigated the effects of different heating rates during sulfurization of CZTS thin films on their morphological, structural, and electrical properties. It was found that a heating rate of 20°C/min resulted in a nearly single-phase kesterite CZTS with low disorder degree, while other heating rates produced more secondary phases. The study also examined the influence of heating rate on the decomposition process during sulfurization.
CERAMICS INTERNATIONAL
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Ignacio Estevez Espinoza, Yasuhiro Matsumoto Kuwabara, Mauricio Ortega Lopez, J. Octavio Estevez Espinoza
Summary: Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) thin films were successfully deposited on glass-slide substrates by ultrasonic spray pyrolysis, showing kesterite as the predominant phase. Analysis of X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, UV-Vis absorbance spectra, and Tauc plots provided detailed information on the structural, optical, and electronic properties of the CZTS films. All prepared CZTS films exhibited p-type conductivity, as confirmed by Hall measurements.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS SCIENCE-MATERIALS IN ELECTRONICS
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Coatings & Films
R. Hippler, M. Cada, P. Ksirova, J. Olejnicek, P. Jiricek, J. Houdkova, H. Wulff, A. Kruth, C. A. Helm, Z. Hubicka
Summary: Cobalt oxide films were deposited using two different magnetron sputtering techniques under different oxygen atmospheres, demonstrating that films produced by HiPIMS process have better performance and lower resistivity. The deposition conditions of magnetron sputtering have a significant impact on the crystal structure and electrical properties of the deposited films.
SURFACE & COATINGS TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear
Hassan Ahmoum, Mohd Sukor Su'ait, Narges Ataollahi, Muhammad Ubaidah Syafiq Mustaffa, Mourad Boughrara, Puvaneswaran Chelvanathan, Kamaruzzaman Sopian, Guojian Li, Mohamed Kerouad, Paolo Scardi, Qiang Wang
Summary: This study investigates the impact of solvent addition on CZTS photovoltaic thin films. Through analyses including XRD, Raman spectroscopy, and electrical characteristics, it was found that the sulfur/OLA/1-DDT sample exhibited superior properties compared to other materials in surface morphology, crystallite size, and charge carrier concentration, showing promise for effective absorber thin films for photovoltaic applications.
INORGANIC CHEMISTRY COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Physics, Condensed Matter
A. Ashfaq, Jolly Jacob, K. Mahmood, Khurram Mehboob, Salma Ikram, A. Ali, N. Amin, Sajad Hussain, U. Rehman
Summary: The study investigated the effect of sulfur concentration on the CZTS thin films grown using sol-gel spin coating method, and found that increasing sulfur content improved the crystallinity and surface smoothness, resulting in enhanced thermoelectric properties.
PHYSICA B-CONDENSED MATTER
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
M. Spankova, M. Sojkova, E. Dobrocka, P. Hutar, M. Bodik, F. Munnik, M. Hulman, S. Chromik
Summary: The study investigates the preparation of MoS2 thin films using MoO3 layers deposited with different techniques, finding that the quality of MoS2 is strongly influenced by the properties of the precursor MoO3 layers. A comparison of two types of MoS2 films prepared from different MoO3 layers identifies the most suitable MoO3 layer properties for high-quality MoS2 films in future applications.
APPLIED SURFACE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Bong Woo Kim, Jin Hyuck Heo, Jin Kyoung Park, David Sunghwan Lee, Hyunik Park, Seong Yeon Kim, Jun Ho Kim, Sang Hyuk Im
Summary: The morphology and crystal grain size of inorganic CsPbBr3 metal halide perovskite films can be controlled through a diffusion-controlled anti-solvent dripping crystallization method. The optimized 8:2 CsPbBr3 MHP LED shows significantly enhanced performance and better operating stability compared to the pristine device.
JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL AND ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Kee-Jeong Yang, Sammi Kim, Se-Yun Kim, Dae-Ho Son, Jaebaek Lee, Young-Ill Kim, Shi-Joon Sung, Dae-Hwan Kim, Temujin Enkhbat, JunHo Kim, Juran Kim, William Jo, Jin-Kyu Kang
Summary: This study investigates the effects of Na doping on the efficiency of kesterite solar cells by applying a NaF layer at different positions within precursors. The NaF layer limits Zn diffusion, suppresses Cu-Zn alloy formation, and provides reactive Se and S to the absorber layer, reducing the impact of Na and improving efficiency. By applying NaF between the Zn layer and back contact and between the Cu and Sn layers, efficiency values of 11.16% and 11.19% are achieved for flexible CZTSSe solar cells.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Energy & Fuels
SeongYeon Kim, Fei Zhang, Jinhui Tong, Xihan Chen, Enkhjargal Enkhbayar, Kai Zhu, JunHo Kim
Summary: KCl treatment on SnO2 ETL improves the defect issues associated with SnO2 and perovskite/SnO2 interface, leading to enhanced efficiency of perovskite solar cells.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Taeseon Lee, Md Hamim Sharif, Enkhjargal Enkhbayar, Temujin Enkhbat, Md Salahuddin Mina, JunHo Kim
Summary: A method for incorporating Al2O3 into CZTSSe absorber and its effect on solar cell performance is reported. The results show that optimal Al2O3 incorporation reduces defect level and density, and enhances device performance.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Md Salahuddin Mina, SeongYeon Kim, Temujin Enkhbat, Enkhjargal Enkhbayar, JunHo Kim
Summary: High-efficiency CIGSSe solar cells fabricated by water-based spray deposition in an air environment are reported. The use of Zr4+-alloyed In2S3 or CdS buffer layers greatly enhances the power conversion efficiency (PCE). These solar cells with a small bandgap can also serve as bottom cells in high efficiency tandem cells.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Da-Yi Jung, Yu-Ra Jeong, Md Salahuddin Mina, Si-Eun Lee, Enkhjargal Enkhbayar, JunHo Kim
Summary: The effects of (Na, K) co-doping and selenization temperature on the performance of flexible Cu(In, Ga)(S, Se)2 (CIGSSe) solar cells were investigated. Co-doping of Na and K significantly passivated defect states and achieved the highest power conversion efficiency (PCE). However, higher K concentration and selenization temperature showed negative effects on the solar cell performance.
CURRENT APPLIED PHYSICS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Jin Kyoung Park, Seong Yeon Kim, Jun Ho Kim, Jin Hyuck Heo, Sang Hyuk Im
Summary: Large area and efficient CsPbBr3 perovskite light emitting diodes (PeLEDs) were successfully fabricated by a commercializable spray-coating method. The PeLEDs exhibited excellent optoelectronic performance and controlled crystal grain size. Both rigid and flexible PeLEDs based on glass and polymer substrates were demonstrated. Moreover, the PeLEDs with controlled crystal grain size could generate electric power under daylight conditions, similar to solar cells.
JOURNAL OF ALLOYS AND COMPOUNDS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Temujin Enkhbat, Enkhjargal Enkhbayar, Namuundari Otgontamir, Md Hamim Sharif, Md Salahuddin Mina, Seong Yeon Kim, JunHo Kim
Summary: Ag substitution in CZTSSe effectively reduces Cu/Zn related defects, electro-static fluctuations, and SRH recombination centers. However, high-performance ACZTSSe solar cells usually require more Ag and complex fabrication processes, which are not ideal when using cheap CZTSSe materials. To reduce Ag amount, local Ag substitutions at the front, back, and dual front/back were proposed. Experimental results showed that front passivation reduced Cu/Zn related defects and limited interface/bulk recombination, while back passivation improved grain growth and enhanced charge carrier transport. The dual Ag-passivation approach significantly improved the ACZTSSe device parameters, leading to a remarkable power conversion efficiency of 12.43% with an eco-friendly aqueous solution process.
JOURNAL OF ENERGY CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Siwon Oh, Soo Yeon Lim, Dae-Ho Son, Jin-Kyu Kang, Hyesun Yoo, Dae-Hwan Kim, Hyeonsik Cheong
Summary: This study investigated the influence of the SnSe2 secondary phase on the performance of a solar cell. The research found that even with a small amount, the SnSe2 secondary phase has a critical impact on the characteristics of the solar cell. Controlling the formation of the SnSe2 secondary phase is identified as a crucial factor in obtaining high-efficiency CZTSSe solar cells.
ACS APPLIED ENERGY MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Enkhjargal Enkhbayar, JunHo Kim
Summary: The effects of tantalum (Ta) and gallium (Ga) doping on the crystal structure and ionic conductivity of Garnet Li7La3Zr2O12 (LLZO) were investigated. Ta doping enhanced the ionic conductivity of the grain boundary but showed poor total ionic conductivity. Ga doping improved the bulk conductivity and sinterability. Codoped Li6.4Ga0.133La3Zr1.8Ta0.2O12 garnet exhibited enhanced ionic conductivity and high-density microstructure.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Dae-Ho Son, Dong-Hwan Jeon, Dae-Hwan Kim, Jin-Kyu Kang, Shi-Joon Sung, Jaebaek Lee, Taeseon Lee, Enkhjargal Enkhbayar, JunHo Kim, Kee-Jeong Yang
Summary: Understanding the defect characteristics near the space-charge regions (SCRs) in CZTSSe solar cells is crucial for addressing the issue of low efficiency due to recombination loss at the CZTSSe/CdS interface. The elemental composition on the CZTSSe surfaces varied depending on the polishing time, and excessive Cu-rich and Zn-poor regions were observed near the SCR for longer polishing times. These elemental variations resulted in the formation of various charged defects. The degradation of efficiency and other performance parameters was more significant for CZTSSe solar cells with deeper energy levels near the SCR compared to CIGSe solar cells.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Namuundari Otgontamir, Temujin Enkhbat, Enkhjargal Enkhbayar, Soomin Song, Seong Yeon Kim, Tae Ei Hong, Junho Kim
Summary: A study proposed a method to improve the performance of Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)(4) solar cells, which involves Ag-alloying in the bulk and Al2O3 atomic layer deposition (ALD) process at the p-n interface. Comprehensive characterizations showed that Ag-alloying reduces deep defects, while Al2O3 ALD process facilitates the formation of a well-defined p-n interface region and defect passivation. This method enhances the power conversion efficiency (PCE) and improves all device parameters.
ADVANCED ENERGY MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Enkhjargal Enkhbayar, Namuundari Otgontamir, Junho Kim
Summary: The garnet Li7La3Zr2O12 (LLZO) is a promising solid electrolyte for all-solid state Li-ion batteries, with the cubic phase offering better ionic conductivity compared to the tetragonal phase. To stabilize the cubic phase and enhance its ionic conductivity, ternary-doped LLZO was synthesized and investigated. The results showed successful incorporation of the ternary-doped elements into the cubic garnet structure without formation of secondary phases, resulting in enhanced microstructure and the highest ionic conductivity achieved.
RESULTS IN PHYSICS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Vijay C. Karade, Jihoo Lim, Kuldeep Singh Gour, Jun Sung Jang, So Jeong Shin, Jong H. Kim, Bum Seung Yang, Hyuntae Choi, Temujin Enkhbat, JunHo Kim, Jae Sung Yun, Hae Nam Jang, Jae Ho Yun, Jongsung Park, Jin Hyeok Kim
Summary: This study reports the fabrication of an efficient CZTSSe absorber layer with improved V-oc loss, achieved through the double cation incorporation (co-doping) approach using Ag and Ge. The devices showed enhanced performances and lower V-oc losses after co-doping, both under standard illumination and low light intensity conditions. The CZTSSe:Ag-Ge device demonstrated high V-oc and efficiency under indoor light conditions, attributed to enhanced carrier density, reduced defect density, and low carrier recombinations.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY A
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Hyesun Yoo, Jongsung Park, Mahesh P. Suryawanshi, Jiwon Lee, JunHo Kim, Kiryung Eom, Hyungtak Seo, HyoRim Jung, Dong Myeong Kim, Seung Wook Shin, Jin Hyeok Kim
Summary: This study presents new insights into surface and interface engineering of CZTSe/CdS buffer in solar cells by in situ formed ZnSe nanoparticles, leading to improved device characteristics and junction qualities. The favorable band alignment and formation mechanism of in situ formed ZnSe NPs offer a simple and source-free interface engineering strategy to enhance the performance of kesterite solar cell devices.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY A
(2021)
