Article
Electrochemistry
Qian Li, Yu Hao, Yaru Cui, Juan Wang, Jinjing Du, Miao Wang, Jinpeng Hu, Tong Shen, Lizhen Duan, Simin Wang, Ke Sun, Shan Gao
Summary: High-temperature sulfurization is an effective method for preparing Cu2ZnSnS4 thin-film solar cells with high crystallinity and absorption coefficient. The analysis of CZTS films annealed at 580 degrees Celsius revealed optimized results in terms of morphological changes and absorption coefficients.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ELECTROCHEMICAL SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Shafayeth Jamil, Uday Saha, Md. Kawsar Alam
Summary: Thin-film silicon solar cells are of interest due to their low material usage and cost-effective processing, but their low power-conversion efficiency hinders commercial usage and mass production. To address this issue, an ultrathin dual junction tandem solar cell with Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) and crystalline silicon (c-Si) as the main absorbing layers was designed. Computational analyses showed a 28.28% power conversion efficiency within 9 μm thin-film c-Si using a 220 nm top CZTS layer. These findings have the potential to reduce the amount of silicon in solar cells while maintaining high power conversion efficiency.
NANOSCALE ADVANCES
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Muyi Zhang, Yuhao Liu, Bo Yang, Xuetian Lin, Yue Lu, Jiajia Zheng, Chao Chen, Jiang Tang
Summary: CuPbSbS3 (bournonite) is a promising light-absorbing material for thin-film solar cells due to its attractive photophysical properties. Enhancing the crystallinity of CuPbSbS3 films is key to achieving high power conversion efficiency. Optimization strategies including adjusting annealing temperature and reducing carbon residue have successfully improved the crystallinity of CuPbSbS3 films, leading to the highest power conversion efficiency of 2.65% for CuPbSbS3 solar cells so far.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Yaobin Li, Shurong Wang, Hua Liao, Xinyu Li, Xin Xu, Shui Yang
Summary: By intentionally introducing oxygen into the Cu-Zn-Sn precursors, CZTS films with smooth surfaces and no pinholes were successfully fabricated. Additionally, the formation of MoS2 was suppressed by introducing ZnO as a barrier layer during the sulfurizing process. Optimizing the sulfurization temperature also led to an increase in short circuit current density and open circuit voltage of the CZTS solar cells, resulting in a conversion efficiency of 4.97% with improved performance.
MATERIALS SCIENCE IN SEMICONDUCTOR PROCESSING
(2021)
Article
Physics, Condensed Matter
Xin Liu, Xinyu Li, Xiang Li, Qiulian Li, Daoyong Zhang, Na Yu, Shurong Wang
Summary: Cu2SnS3 (CTS) thin films prepared by sulfurization exhibit good performance in solar cells, with the highest power conversion efficiency of 3.68%, as well as high short-circuit current density and peak external quantum efficiency.
PHYSICA B-CONDENSED MATTER
(2022)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Ju-Guang Hu, Tong Wu, Muhammad Ishaq, Umar Farooq, Shuo Chen, Zhuang-Hao Zheng, Zheng-Hua Su, Xiao-Dong Lin, Ping Fan, Hong-Li Ma, Xiang-Hua Zhang, Guang-Xing Liang
Summary: The CZTS thin-film solar cell achieved a record power conversion efficiency of 6.62% through pulsed laser deposition and sulfurization process, attributed to its optimized structure and composition. This research provides a facile and robust preparation method for CZTS films with enhanced photovoltaic properties and increased efficiency.
SOLAR ENERGY MATERIALS AND SOLAR CELLS
(2021)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Al Amin, Xiaomeng Duan, Jacob Wall, Kausar Ali Khawaja, Wenjun Xiang, Lin Li, Feng Yan
Summary: The structural heterostructured CdS buffer layer can promote the vertical growth of Sb2Se3 nanoribbons, resulting in improved device efficiency of the solar cells. The improved buffer/absorber interface and reduced interface defects and recombination loss contribute to the efficiency enhancement. This new strategy provides a way to regulate the crystal growth of Sb2Se3 nanoribbons and further improve the efficiency of low-dimensional chalcogenide thin film solar cells.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Kai Lv, Chengwu Shi, Rui Cao, Wangchao Chen, Guiju Hu, Fuling Guo, Yanqing Wang
Summary: Sb2S3-ySey thin films were prepared using a hydrothermal growth solution and solar cells with FTO/CdS/Sb2S3-ySey/spiro-OMeTAD/Au architecture were fabricated. The position of CdS/FTO substrate and the volume of growth solution strongly influenced the properties of Sb2S3-ySey thin films and the photovoltaic performance of solar cells. The introduction of P3HT and TMT-TTF into spiro-OMeTAD increased the power conversion efficiency of Sb2S3-ySey solar cells.
MATERIALS TODAY ENERGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
S. Erkan, A. Yagmyrov, A. Altuntepe, R. Zan, M. A. Olgar
Summary: In this study, CZTS samples were produced on Mo and graphene/Mo coated glass substrates. The CZTS thin films were annealed in sulphur atmosphere using rapid thermal processing method. The results showed that using graphene as an inter-layer improved the crystalline quality and grain size of the CZTS films, leading to enhanced conversion efficiency of the solar cells.
JOURNAL OF ALLOYS AND COMPOUNDS
(2022)
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Saba Khosravi
Summary: In this study, the conversion efficiency of a 1 μm InP thin film solar cell is significantly improved by using a array of perpendicular TiO2 nanobars and a backside grating. The TiO2 nanobars are coated with an anti-reflector (AR) and partially embedded in the InP film to trap light effectively. Optimizing the size of the TiO2 nanobars leads to a 41.5% enhancement in photocurrent current density (J(ph)) and a 49.3% improvement in power conversion efficiency (PCE) compared to the conventional InP film. A back reflector (BR) structure consisting of six SiO2 layers with Si nanopyramid arrays is applied at the backside of the absorption film to boost long wavelength absorption. Compared to the 1 μm InP thin film solar cell, the J(ph) and PCE are improved by 52.7% and approximately 59%, respectively. Finite-Difference-Time-Domain (FDTD) and Finite-Element-Method (FEM) are used to obtain the results.
Article
Energy & Fuels
M. Okil, Ahmed Shaker, Ibrahim S. Ahmed, Tarek M. Abdolkader, Marwa S. Salem
Summary: This study proposes a two-terminal monolithic Sb2S3/Si thin film tandem solar cell structure and investigates it through TCAD simulation. By optimizing the structure of the top sub-cell and the bandgap of the bottom thin-film silicon cell, a conversion efficiency of 10.10% is achieved. Further optimization of various parameters improves the efficiency of the tandem cell to 19.51%.
SOLAR ENERGY MATERIALS AND SOLAR CELLS
(2023)
Review
Computer Science, Information Systems
Christos Falaras, Elias Stathatos
Summary: Advanced engineering strategies have been employed to improve the performance and stability of perovskite solar cells, focusing on interface engineering between the perovskite absorbing layer and the electron transport layer, as well as the perovskite and hole transport layer. Machine learning approaches have been used to validate experimental data and accurately predict solar cell parameters, confirming the significance and potential application of interface functionalization approaches.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Ping Fan, Yang He, Guangxing Liang, Zhigao Xie, Zixuan Yu, Jinhong Lin, Shuo Chen, Zhuanghao Zheng, Jingting Luo, Zhenghua Su
Summary: The study demonstrates that doping with In or Al at the interface of Ag-alloyed CZTS thin film solar cells can enhance device performance, resulting in over 11% efficiency. Additionally, replacing indium tin oxide (ITO) with low-cost Al-doped ZnO (AZO) as the front electrode can achieve over 10% efficiency in CZTS devices without In.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY A
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Eka Cahya Prima, Lydia Helena Wong, Ahmad Ibrahim, Nugraha, Brian Yuliarto
Summary: This study presents a novel achievement of solution processed-pure Cu2ZnSnS4/CdS solar cell by considering the kesterite structure, secondary phases, bandgap, and absorbance. The fabricated solar cell exhibited a power conversion efficiency of 7.5% with a 1.43 eV bandgap and 83.5% external quantum efficiency at 570 nm, highlighting the importance of considering atomic ratios and film uniformity during the spin coating process for high-performance CZTS solar cells.
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)
