Current challenges and future prospects for a highly efficient (&gt;20%) kesterite CZTS solar cell: A review

Pal, Krishan; Singh, Pawan; Bhaduri, Abhishikta; Thapa, Khem B.

doi:10.1016/j.solmat.2019.03.001

Cited by 199 publications

(120 citation statements)

References 136 publications

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“…Apparently, conditioning in air results in substantial increase of a number of paramagnetic centers in both pre-kesterite and kesterite. Data analysis that was carried out as previously (Equations (2) and 3, S = 1/2, T 0 = 0.0) shows that the number of paramagnetic centers increases now 37 times for pre-kesterite, 65 times for 500 • C-kesterite, and 60 times for 550 • C-kesterite. In consequence, magnetization at high temperatures (e.g., 300 K) is positive as paramagnetic contribution prevails over the diamagnetism of the sample's lattice.…”

Section: Magnetic Studymentioning

confidence: 87%

“…The quaternary sulfide Cu (1+) 2 Zn (2+) Sn (4+) S (2−) 4 called in short kesterite or CZTS has been a focus of intense research work for more than a decade now not only because of its great potentials in the next generation photovoltaics [1][2][3][4][5], but also because of its very much elusive chemical and physical characteristics. The latter aspect stems mainly from the compound's capability to exist in stable forms with significant non-stoichiometry (e.g., copper rich or copper poor), with variable/interchangeable atom sites in the crystal lattice (e.g., Cu/Zn ordered or disordered polymorphs, kesterite vs. stannite structures), and relatively easily accommodating various structural defects (e.g., vacancies, nanophase segregation) to name the most outstanding [6][7][8][9][10][11][12].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Magnetism of Kesterite Cu2ZnSnS4 Semiconductor Nanopowders Prepared by Mechanochemically Assisted Synthesis Method

et al. 2020

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High energy ball milling is used to make first the quaternary sulfide Cu2ZnSnS4 raw nanopowders from two different precursor systems. The mechanochemical reactions in this step afford cubic pre-kesterite with defunct semiconducting properties and showing no solid-state 65Cu and 119Sn MAS NMR spectra. In the second step, each of the milled raw materials is annealed at 500 and 550 °C under argon to result in tetragonal kesterite nanopowders with the anticipated UV-Vis-determined energy band gap and qualitatively correct NMR characteristics. The magnetic properties of all materials are measured with SQUID magnetometer and confirm the pre-kesterite samples to show typical paramagnetism with a weak ferromagnetic component whereas all the kesterite samples to exhibit only paramagnetism of relatively decreased magnitude. Upon conditioning in ambient air for 3 months, a pronounced increase of paramagnetism is observed in all materials. Correlations between the magnetic and spectroscopic properties of the nanopowders including impact of oxidation are discussed. The magnetic measurements coupled with NMR spectroscopy appear to be indispensable for comprehensive kesterite evaluation.

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Section: Magnetic Studymentioning

confidence: 87%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Magnetism of Kesterite Cu2ZnSnS4 Semiconductor Nanopowders Prepared by Mechanochemically Assisted Synthesis Method

et al. 2020

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“…This is due to the low cost of their mass production, as constituent elements in Kesterites are non-toxic and abundant in the earth's crust compared to CIGS and CdTe. Moreover, they have suitable direct band gap near to 1.45 eV (CZTS), around 1 eV (CZTSe), and 1.0-1.5 eV (CZTSSe, depending on the S/(S + Se) ratio) together with high absorption coefficient (> 1 × 10 4 cm −1 ), which make them ideal among all the second generation thin film solar cells [1][2][3][4]. Furthermore, theoretical conversion efficiencies of Kesterites-based solar cells are around 32% like chalcopyrite according to Shockley-Queisser photon balance calculations [5].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

CZTS thin film solar cells on flexible Molybdenum foil by electrodeposition-annealing route

et al. 2020

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Earth-abundant and non-toxic Kesterite-based Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) thin film solar cells are successfully fabricated on flexible Molybdenum (Mo) foil substrates by an electrodeposition-annealing route. A well-adherent, densely packed, homogeneous, compact, and mirror-like CZT precursor is initially produced through electrodeposition by using a rotating working electrode. Subsequently, the co-electrodeposited CuZnSn (CZT) precursor is sulfurized in quartz tube furnace at 550 °C for 2 h in N2 atmosphere with the presence of elemental sulfur in order to form CZTS. Different characterization techniques like XRD, SEM, HR-TEM, Raman, and Photoluminescence demonstrate that almost phase-pure CZTS formed after sulfurization. A flexible Al/Al-ZnO/i-ZnO/CdS/CZTS/Mo foil solar cell is produced, where CdS is deposited by chemical bath deposition and transparent conducting oxide (TCO) is deposited by DC sputtering. The CZTS solar device shows a 0.55% power conversion efficiency on flexible Mo foil substrate and it constitutes the first prototype of this kind of solar cell produced by electrodeposition-annealing route without any surface modification of the Mo substrate. Graphic abstract

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“…Therefore researchers are focusing on replacing the rare earth Indium and Gallium in CIGS with Zn and Sn with suitable stoichiometry and improved crystallization such as, Copper Zinc Tin Sulphide (CZTS) and selenide (CZTSe). Because of their crystal structure, these class of materials are known as Kesterite based materials and are inherently good alternative for polycrystalline CIGS and CdTe [4][5][6][7][8][9][10]. CZTSe materials have an adjustable bandgap of 0.85-1.5eV and high absorption coefficient in the range 10 4 cm −1 which makes it a dependable semiconductor absorber layer in thin film solar cells [11,12].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Formation of a phase pure kesterite CZTSe thin films using multisource hybrid physical vapour deposition

Simya

Priyadarshini

Balachander

et al. 2020

Mater. Res. Express

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Copper Zinc Tin Selenide (CZTSe) absorber films were obtained by growing CZT films with simultaneous RF and DC magnetron sputtering followed by thermal evaporation of Selenium. The deposition of CZTSe films was performed with different sputter powers with in-situ and post annealing of the deposited films at 400°C in order to get uniformity and phase purity. Detailed GIXRD analysis concluded that a phase pure CZTSe film was obtained for in-situ annealed sample with Cu-Sn deposited through RF sputter power of 250W and Zn deposited through pulsed DC power of 200W. In conclusion from Raman scattering measurements, phase pure Raman active A mode of Kesterite CZTSe was observed for the same sample. Compositional analysis by EDS and XPS clearly showed that the CZTSe films are having Cu poor and Zn rich composition, favoring shallow Cu-vacancy which is highly desirable as p-type absorber layers for solar cells. The optical bandgaps (Eg) of the films calculated using Tauc plots were within the reported bandgap value of 1.0-1.35eV. The present deposition approach using hybrid PVD tool helps to control individual fluxes (Cu-Sn, Zn, Se), more precisely without the need of extra selenization step, leading to one step reduction in production process.

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Current challenges and future prospects for a highly efficient (>20%) kesterite CZTS solar cell: A review

Cited by 199 publications

References 136 publications

Magnetism of Kesterite Cu2ZnSnS4 Semiconductor Nanopowders Prepared by Mechanochemically Assisted Synthesis Method

Magnetism of Kesterite Cu2ZnSnS4 Semiconductor Nanopowders Prepared by Mechanochemically Assisted Synthesis Method

CZTS thin film solar cells on flexible Molybdenum foil by electrodeposition-annealing route

Formation of a phase pure kesterite CZTSe thin films using multisource hybrid physical vapour deposition

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