Earth‐Abundant Element Photovoltaics Directly from Soluble Precursors with High Yield Using a Non‐Toxic Solvent

Ki, Wooseok; Hillhouse, Hugh W.

doi:10.1002/aenm.201100140

Cited by 332 publications

(240 citation statements)

References 28 publications

(32 reference statements)

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“…This p-type semiconductor has high absorption coefficient above 10 4 cm -1 in the visible range of light and has band gap energy around 1.5 eV [1,2]. Having these characteristics, a CZTS-based solar cell is theoretically capable of reaching an efficiency of 34% under AM 1.5 illumination, according to Shockley-Queisser calculation [3]. In addition one important advantage of CZTS compared to other absorber layers in thin film solar cell (TFSC) technology is its earth abundant and non-toxic composition, which makes it a potential cost effective and environmentally benign candidate for future TFSCs.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Effect of selenization conditions on the growth and properties of Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 thin films

et al. 2015

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Effect of selenization conditions on the growth and properties of Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 thin films

et al. 2015

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“…Solar energy has received increasing interests as an alternative to other sources of energy such as fossil fuels and nuclear energy. [1][2][3][4][5][6] One of the most promising solar cells is based on the polycrystalline Cu(In,Ga)Se 2 (CIGS) fabricated by using vacuum based process whose conversion efficiency is up to 21.7%. 7 Although vacuum techniques seem to be an excellent method for fabricating high efficiency CIGS solar cells, it is challenging to scale up the process for commercial production.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Insights into the Properties of Deep Eutectic Solvent Based on Reline for Ga-Controllable CIGS Solar Cell in One-Step Electrodeposition

Zhang

Han

Cheng³

2016

J. Electrochem. Soc.

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A deep eutectic solvent (DES) called Reline has attracted great interests in photovoltaic application. Many efforts have been made to get high efficiency solar cells by electrodeposition in such a low-cost and green electrolyte. In this work, the micro-structure and electrochemical properties of Reline are investigated. The metal complex system of Reline and metal salts is deduced by FTIR and UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy analyses. The theoretical diffusion coefficients of Cu, In and Ga at 65 • C are calculated by Cyclic voltammetry analysis to perform a controllable Ga/(In+Ga) ratio over a large range (0 ∼ 0.53) by different pulse potentiostatic methods. Based on these achievements and optimizations, the best CIGS solar cell device with a promising efficiency of 10.1% is achieved. Solar energy has received increasing interests as an alternative to other sources of energy such as fossil fuels and nuclear energy. [1][2][3][4][5][6] One of the most promising solar cells is based on the polycrystalline Cu(In,Ga)Se 2 (CIGS) fabricated by using vacuum based process whose conversion efficiency is up to 21.7%. 7 Although vacuum techniques seem to be an excellent method for fabricating high efficiency CIGS solar cells, it is challenging to scale up the process for commercial production. While sputtering and evaporation technique could be used for large-area deposition, however, the production process is limited by expensive vacuum equipment as well as large energy consumption. [8][9][10][11] For low-cost fabrication of semiconductor thin films, electrodeposition has been proved to be a viable approach for large scale manufacturing of CIGS.10-13 However, most of the works are carried out in aqueous solvents, in which hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) leads to low plating efficiencies and pinholes in the plating layer.14,15 To avoid the occurrence of HER, researchers in recent years have turned to deep eutectic solvents (DES) as an electrolyte for electrochemical reactions due to their wide electrochemical window, high ionic conductivity, high solvation capacity, negligible vapor pressure and excellent stability. [16][17][18][19][20] Besides, DES, as a subclass of ionic liquids (ILs), is a green electrolyte for application in electroplating. [14][15][16][21][22][23] Reline, as one application of DES, is formed by choline chloride and urea at the ratio of 1:2. Harati et al. fabricated successfully stoichiometric CIGS thin film by the one-pot electrodeposition in Reline as electrolyte.21 Malaquias et al. used Reline to deposit In-Ga on Cu and Mo electrodes and finally obtained solar cell with a 7.9% efficiency. 15 Chen at al reported a 3.87% CZTS solar cell efficiency by co-electrodepositing Cu-Zn-Sn precursor thin films in Reline. 24 Although these studies show the viability of Reline as a green electrolyte, its micro-structure and electrochemical properties are rarely reported and the formed metal complexes in Reline are also needed further investigation. Meanwhile DES is cheap and easy to synthesize and has wide applica...

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“…[61,62]. Soluble molecular precursors such as organometallic compounds and hydrazinium chalcogenidometallates (hydrazinium MCCs), have previously been used in preparation of films of corresponding semiconductors [63][64][65]. For instance, MCC precursors decompose at an elevated temperature, forming desired inorganic phases in thin films.…”

Section: Formation Of Semiconductor Films Through Solid-state Reactiomentioning

confidence: 99%

Inorganic Surface Ligands for Colloidal Nanomaterials

Nag¹,

Zhang

Janke

et al. 2014

Zeitschrift Für Physikalische Chemie

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Since the discovery of metal chalcogenide complexes (MCCs) as capping ligands for colloidal nanocrystals (NCs) in 2009, the chemistry of inorganic ligands for NCs has provided a new paradigm for surface design of nanomaterials. Various inorganic anions including MCCs, metal-free chalcogenides, oxoanions/oxometallates, and halides/pseudohalides/halometallates have been employed to replace the original long-chain organic ligands on NCs. This ligand exchange can also be achieved through a two-step route using ligands stripping agents like HBF 4 . This review outlines recent advances in inorganically-capped colloidal NCs and details the ligand exchange process for NCs using MCCs and metal-free chalcogenides. The binding affinities of ligands to NC surface have been rationalized in terms of Pearson's hard and soft acids and bases (HSAB) principle. We also demonstrate that inorganic ligands broaden the functionality of NCs by tailoring their electro-optical properties or generating new inorganic phases through chemical reactions between nanomaterials and their surface ligands. Especially promising are the electronic, optoelectronic, and thermoelectric applications of solution-processed, inorganically-capped colloidal NCs, which substantially outperform their organically-capped couterparts.

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Earth‐Abundant Element Photovoltaics Directly from Soluble Precursors with High Yield Using a Non‐Toxic Solvent

Cited by 332 publications

References 28 publications

Effect of selenization conditions on the growth and properties of Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 thin films

Effect of selenization conditions on the growth and properties of Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 thin films

Insights into the Properties of Deep Eutectic Solvent Based on Reline for Ga-Controllable CIGS Solar Cell in One-Step Electrodeposition

Inorganic Surface Ligands for Colloidal Nanomaterials

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