Article
Chemistry, Physical
Natalia M. Martin, Tobias Torndahl, Erik Wallin, Konstantin A. Simonov, Hakan Rensmo, Charlotte Platzer-Bjorkman
Summary: The study investigates the impact of postdeposition treatments on ACIGS solar cell performance, finding that different alkali metal fluoride treatments can modify the surface composition of the ACIGS absorber layer, thereby influencing device behavior.
ACS APPLIED ENERGY MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Melike Babucci, Debora M. Meira, Erik Wallin, Jan Keller, Olivier Donzel-Gargand, Charlotte Platzer Bjorkman, Natalia M. Martin
Summary: Alloying CIGS solar cell absorber with silver can improve the performance of thin-film solar cells by increasing the optical band gap and open-circuit voltage. By using angle-resolved XAS and other measurement techniques, it is found that the local atomic arrangement of ACIGS absorbers with varying Ag content and Ga depth gradient deviates from the long-range crystallographic structure, which may affect the electronic properties of solar cells.
ACS APPLIED ENERGY MATERIALS
(2023)
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
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Tomas S. Lopes, Jessica de Wild, Celia Rocha, Andre Violas, Jose M. Cunha, Jennifer P. Teixeira, Marco A. Curado, Antonio J. N. Oliveira, Jerome Borme, Gizem Birant, Guy Brammertz, Paulo A. Fernandes, Bart Vermang, Pedro M. P. Salome
Summary: The study demonstrated the simultaneous implementation of potassium fluoride (KF) post-deposition treatment (PDT) and a rear interface passivation strategy on ultrathin Cu(In,Ga)Se-2 (CIGS) solar cells for the first time. Electrical measurements and simulations suggested that under specific conditions, devices with only KF-PDT treatment may outperform those with rear interface passivation alone. By combining KF-PDT and rear interface passivation, there was a significant enhancement in open-circuit voltage and reduction in recombination losses, leading to improved charge carrier lifetime in the studied devices.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2021)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Tim Helder, Ana Kanevce, Mario Zinsser, Rico Gutzler, Stefan Paetel, Wolfram Hempel, Theresa Magorian Friedlmeier, Michael Powalla
Summary: This study investigates the effect of rubidium-fluoride (RbF) postdeposition treatment (PDT) on the performance and physical properties of (Ag,Cu)(In,Ga)Se-2 (ACIGS) solar cells. The results show that the efficiency of ACIGS devices is reduced by the PDT process, unlike observed for Cu(In,Ga)Se-2 (CIGS) absorber. The amount of rubidium strongly influences the efficiency and the doping mechanism of the ACIGS absorber.
PROGRESS IN PHOTOVOLTAICS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yu-Han Chang, Romain Carron, Mario Ochoa, Ayodhya N. Tiwari, James R. Durrant, Ludmilla Steier
Summary: This study investigates the impact of NaF and RbF postdeposition treatments on minority carrier dynamics in Cu(In,Ga)Se-2 solar cells using transient absorption spectroscopy. NaF PDT improves electron recombination lifetimes, while the effectiveness of RbF PDT decreases with higher Ga-concentrations. Additionally, both alkali PDTs promote electron mobility in the absorber region with large grains.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Md Salahuddin Mina, Enkhjargal Enkhbayar, Namuundari Otgontamir, SeongYeon Kim, JunHo Kim
Summary: In this study, narrow band gap CIGSSe solar cells were investigated with and without alkali treatment. The power conversion efficiency of the solar cell was significantly enhanced through rubidium postdeposition treatment, which facilitated defect passivation and downshift of the valence band maximum. This treatment resulted in a high efficiency tandem solar cell with a PCE of -15% and an energy band gap of less than 1.1 eV.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Alexandra M. Bothwell, Siming Li, Rouin Farshchi, Michael F. Miller, Jake Wands, Craig L. Perkins, Angus Rockett, Aaron R. Arehart, Darius Kuciauskas
Summary: In this study, the authors characterized Ag-alloyed chalcopyrite solar cells and related voltage and efficiency improvements to electro-optical characteristics. They reduced the defect density and achieved longer minority carrier lifetimes, which increased the open-circuit voltage. Analysis of charge-carrier dynamics showed that improvements in device architecture and reduction of semiconductor defect densities are two effective strategies to enhance solar cell performance.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Da-Seul Kim, Gi Soon Park, Byungwoo Kim, Soohyun Bae, Sang Yeun Park, Hyung-Suk Oh, Ung Lee, Doo-Hyun Ko, Jihyun Kim, Byoung Koun Min
Summary: CIGS thin-film solar cells have high efficiency and potential, but reducing CdS film thickness affects the balance of key parameters. By controlling the formation mechanism of CdS films and using ammonia bath solution, charge carrier loss can be reduced, improving device performance.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2021)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Jan Keller, Hisham Aboulfadl, Lars Stolt, Olivier Donzel-Gargand, Marika Edoff
Summary: This contribution investigates the potential of RbF postdeposition treatment on ACIGS solar cells. It is found that while the open-circuit voltage and short-circuit current density can be improved, the fill factor decreases. However, for some stoichiometric samples, the drop in fill factor can be avoided, resulting in higher efficiencies. Extensive material analysis reveals that the treatment leads to modifications in the absorber layer and restricted diffusion of rubidium. A thin RbInSe2 surface layer is also suggested.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Bing Li, Aimei Zhao, Dongmei Xiang, Zhuo Peng, Yujie Yuan, Yupeng Xing, Liyong Yao, Jinlian Bi, Wei Li
Summary: In this study, an Ag buffer layer was used to eliminate the nonuniform distribution of Cu on Mo, resulting in improved crystallinity and performance of ACIGSe absorber and solar cells.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Ishwor Khatri, Pedro Santos, Pedro Anacleto, Deepanjan Sharma, Mohamed Belmoubarik, Nicoleta Nicoara, Mutsumi Sugiyama, Sascha Sadewasser
Summary: The effect of selenium-free annealing on cesium fluoride-treated Cu(In,Ga)Se-2 thin films was studied, showing changes in surface morphology and chemical composition, as well as reduced Urbach energy. However, increased buffer/CIGS interface recombination due to alkali-containing layer re-evaporation limited the benefits of reduced Urbach energies. In contrast, CsF-treated CIGS thin films without annealing preserved the alkali-containing layer, leading to improved buffer/CIGS interface and significant improvements in open-circuit voltage and fill factor in solar cell devices.
PHYSICA STATUS SOLIDI-RAPID RESEARCH LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Ke Cheng, Xingfen Shen, Jingling Liu, Xinsheng Liu, Zuliang Du
Summary: A sequential route for low-cost fabrication of high quality Ag-alloyed CIGS absorbers is reported, where Ag-alloying is introduced into the CuInGa precursor to widen the band gap and improve the crystallinity of the ACIGS absorbers. Different Ag thin layer incorporation locations are schemed for deep understanding the band gap energy and crystallinity regulation mechanism of Ag alloying, leading to a notable improvement in Voc. Finally, the ACIGS absorbers are sulfurized to achieve a highest power conversion efficiency of 13.01%.
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)
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
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Dorothea Ledinek, Jan Keller, Carl Hagglund, Wei-Chao Chen, Marika Edoff
Article
Energy & Fuels
Louis Gouillart, Wei-Chao Chen, Andrea Cattoni, Julie Goffard, Lars Riekehr, Jan Keller, Marie Jubault, Negar Naghavi, Marika Edoff, Stephane Collin
IEEE JOURNAL OF PHOTOVOLTAICS
(2020)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Isaac K. Lam, Gregory M. Hanket, William N. Shafarman
IEEE JOURNAL OF PHOTOVOLTAICS
(2020)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Faraz Khavari, Jan Keller, Jes K. Larsen, Kostiantyn V. Sopiha, Tobias Torndahl, Marika Edoff
PHYSICA STATUS SOLIDI A-APPLICATIONS AND MATERIALS SCIENCE
(2020)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Louis Gouillart, Andrea Cattoni, Wei-Chao Chen, Julie Goffard, Lars Riekehr, Jan Keller, Marie Jubault, Negar Naghavi, Marika Edoff, Stephane Collin
Summary: The research investigates the design of ohmic and reflective back contacts for ultrathin CIGS solar cells, improving efficiency and short-circuit current density by carefully analyzing diffusion mechanisms and reactions in the interfaces and CIGS layer, addressing the detrimental reaction between CIGS and the top ITO layer.
PROGRESS IN PHOTOVOLTAICS
(2021)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Maximilian Krause, Jose A. Marquez, Sergej Levcenco, Thomas Unold, Olivier Donzel-Gargand, Marika Edoff, Daniel Abou-Ras
Summary: The KF post-deposition treatment can increase Voc by removing Cu-poor, Ag-poor, and Ga-rich regions near the ACIGSe/CdS interface. However, an excessive KF dose may lead to the formation of Cu-poor and K-rich regions near the interface, resulting in a decrease in Voc.
PROGRESS IN PHOTOVOLTAICS
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Faraz Khavari, Nishant Saini, Jan Keller, Jes K. Larsen, Kostiantyn Sopiha, Natalia M. Martin, Tobias Torndahl, Charlotte Platzer Bjorkman, Marika Edoff
Summary: A new method of sulfur grading in CuInSe2 thin-film solar absorbers is proposed by introducing an ultrathin sacrificial CuInS2 layer. The sulfur grading phenomenon is observed in the Se- and SeS-treated samples, and the formation of mixed CuIn(S,Se)2 phase is confirmed. The treated bilayer samples show higher optical bandgap and V-OC, but exhibit lower efficiency due to the blocking effect of internal electron barrier.
PHYSICA STATUS SOLIDI A-APPLICATIONS AND MATERIALS SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Kevin Oliveira, Jennifer P. Teixeira, Wei-Chao Chen, Jackson Lontchi Jioleo, Antonio J. N. Oliveira, Ihsan Caha, Leonard Deepak Francis, Denis Flandre, Marika Edoff, Paulo A. Fernandes, Pedro M. P. Salome
Summary: In this study, SiO$_x$ passivation based substrates were developed and integrated into ultrathin Cu(In,Ga)Se$_2$ (CIGS) solar cells to investigate the impact of SiO$_x$ layer thickness on the device performance. Experimental study and optical/electrical simulations were conducted to decouple the optical and electronic gains of the SiO$_x$ layer, allowing for a detailed analysis of its effect on the CIGS solar cell performance. The results showed that an increase in passivation layer thickness led to a rise in parasitic losses, indicating the importance of finding a balance between beneficial passivation and optical effects with harmful architectural constraints to achieve optimal solar cell performance.
IEEE JOURNAL OF PHOTOVOLTAICS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jes K. Larsen, Kostiantyn Sopiha, Clas Persson, Charlotte Platzer-Bjorkman, Marika Edoff
Summary: This contribution investigates the stable and metastable phases forming in CuInS2 (CIS) thin films, which has gained renewed interest due to its potential application in tandem solar cells. The study utilizes a combined theoretical and experimental approach, including ab initio calculations, X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns, and Raman spectra analysis. Multiple CIS structures with different lattices are identified, and their XRD/Raman patterns are shown to have overlapping features. Thin films with different compositions are synthesized, and it is found that several CIS polymorphs are formed. Additionally, CuIn5S8 and NaInS2 compounds accommodating In-excess are found alongside the CIS polymorphs. The study emphasizes the importance of tight composition control for stabilizing the metastable polymorphs.
Article
Physics, Condensed Matter
Patrick Pearson, Jan Keller, Lars Stolt, Marika Edoff, Charlotte Platzer Bjorkman
Summary: The effect of composition on the stability of (Ag, Cu)(In, Ga)Se-2 solar cells with different stoichiometry values was assessed. It was found that the depletion width strongly depends on the stoichiometry value, and can be greatly varied through light-soaking and dry-heat treatments. The device performance, particularly the current output, shows a stoichiometry dependence and is significantly affected after each round of treatment.
PHYSICA STATUS SOLIDI B-BASIC SOLID STATE PHYSICS
(2022)
Editorial Material
Energy & Fuels
Marika Edoff
Summary: Researchers demonstrate a high-power output bifacial solar cell that can harvest sunlight from both sides and improve the efficiency of power generation.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Kostiantyn Sopiha, Jes K. Larsen, Jan Keller, Marika Edoff, Charlotte Platzer-Bjorkman, Jonathan J. S. Scragg
Summary: This study evaluates the tolerance to off-stoichiometry of thin-film photovoltaic materials in the I-III-VI systems, identifies two empirical principles for recognizing solar energy materials with high tolerance to off-stoichiometry, and discusses practical implications for the deposition of I-III-VI absorbers based on computational results and experimental findings.
FARADAY DISCUSSIONS
(2022)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Jackson Lontchi, Maria Zhukova, Milan Kovacic, Janez Krc, Wei-Chao Chen, Marika Edoff, Sourav Bose, Pedro M. P. Salome, Julie Goffard, Andrea Cattoni, L. Gouillart, Stephane Collin, Viktoria Gusak, Denis Flandre
IEEE JOURNAL OF PHOTOVOLTAICS
(2020)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Kostiantyn Sopiha, Jes K. Larsen, Olivier Donzel-Gargand, Faraz Khavari, Jan Keller, Marika Edoff, Charlotte Platzer Bjorkman, Clas Persson, Jonathan J. S. Scragg
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY A
(2020)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Alexander J. Harding, Austin G. Kuba, Brian E. McCandless, Ujjwal K. Das, Kevin D. Dobson, Babatunde A. Ogunnaike, William N. Shafarman
