We review the stability and reliability results of kesterite (Cu 2 ZnSn(S,Se) 4 , CZTSSe)-based solar cells and we complete the reviewed data with additional as yet unpublished data on these matters. We also review published and new data on upscaling and the possible technological applications for this material. Kesterite material is composed of mainly earth-abundant elements and is therefore very attractive for large-scale applications. Stability data are so far quite scarce and the main results are the accelerated aging tests carried out for CZTSSe monograin technology, as well as yet unpublished data on long indoor and outdoor irradiance tests carried out on thin-film CZTSSe technology deposited by a wet processing method. On upscaling and technological applications we point out the works on three main large-scale photovoltaic technologies (monograin, in-line vacuum thin film, and wet-deposited thin film), as well as some work on water-splitting applications.
Stability and reliability of kesterite solar cellsDespite many years of research on kesterite solar cells, until today only a few publications have reported stability data on this type of cells because most papers so far have concentrated on improving the conversion efficiency of the devices. Several stability tests can be carried out on photovoltaic cells and modules. First are
Blister formation in Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) thin films sputtered from a quaternary compound target is investigated. While the thin film structure, composition, and substrate material are not correlated to the blister formation, a strong link between sputtering gas entrapment, in this case argon, and blistering effect is found. It is shown that argon is trapped in the film during sputtering and migrates to locally form blisters during the high temperature annealing. Blister formation in CZTS absorbers is detrimental for thin film solar cell fabrication causing partial peeling of the absorber layer and potential shunt paths in the complete device. Reduced sputtering gas entrapment, and blister formation, is seen for higher sputtering pressure, higher substrate temperature, and change of sputtering gas to larger atoms. This is all in accordance with previous publications on blister formation caused by sputtering gas entrapment in other materials.
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