Efficient Sb₂S₃‐Sensitized Solar Cells Via Single‐Step Deposition of Sb₂S₃ Using S/Sb‐Ratio‐Controlled SbCl₃‐Thiourea Complex Solution

Abstract

To replace the conventional chemical bath deposition method, which is time‐consuming and has a high impurity level, a chemical single‐step deposition process employing a S/Sb ratio‐controlled SbCl3‐thiourea complex solution is introduced to load Sb2S3 into a mesoporous TiO2 electrode. This technique enables the fabrication of efficient and reproducible Sb2S3‐sensitzed inorganic–organic heterojunction hybrid solar cells with hole‐conducting conjugated polymers. The most efficient cell exhibits a short‐circuit current density of 16.1 mA cm−2, an open circuit voltage of 595.5 mV, and a fill factor of 66.5%, yielding a power conversion efficiency of ≈6.4% at standard AM1.5G condition (100 mW cm−2).

Spin-coated planar Sb2S3 hybrid solar cells approaching 5% efficiency

“…In the process described in [29] antimony chloride SbCl 3 and thiourea SC(NH 2 ) 2 , or short TU, are used to form an antimony-thiourea complex [Sb(TU) 2 ]Cl 3 in the high boiling point solvent N , N -dimethylformamide DMF. While [31,38] chose 2-methoxyethanol instead of DMF as the solvent, we stuck to the original recipe with DMF.…”

“…Gil et al [38] applied the same precursor to a planar device configuration and found a strong correlation between TU content and film morphology. The best morphology and device efficiency of 2.7% was obtained for Sb/TU ratios that imply a strongly sulfur-deficient stoichiometry according to the previously mentioned study [29]. However, Gil et al [38] performed crystallization in an H 2 S atmosphere which could increase the sulfur content in the film.…”

“…As an alternative to CBD, spin-coating of different antimony- and sulfur-containing precursors was proposed [29,36–37]. A metal-organic complex is formed in solution which is then spin-coated and afterwards thermally decomposed.…”

Stability Improvement of Photovoltaic Performance in Antimony Sulfide-Based Hybrid Solar Cells

“…Photovoltaic performance and durability of the hybrid solar cells were compared each other with or without encapsulation by using glass and UV cutoff film. Among these hybrid solar cells, it was found that a combination of glass-ITO/TiO 2 /Sb 2 S 3 /ZnPC/Au encapsulated with glass and UV cut filter has the highest durability with keeping the relative power conversion efficiency of 90% through the stability test under 1 sun at 63 • C at a relative humidity of 50% for 1,500 h. 13 and so on and applied as the thin film for solar cell, which has been attained the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 7.5%. 4 Although Sb 2 S 3 -based solar cell seems to be stable in air, 1,14 stability test under the accelerated conditions has not yet been reported.…”

“…11 Sb 2 S 3 has been prepared by chemical bath deposition, [1][2][3][4] atomic layer deposition, 12 complexdecomposition method, 13 and so on and applied as the thin film for solar cell, which has been attained the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 7.5%. 4 Although Sb 2 S 3 -based solar cell seems to be stable in air, 1,14 stability test under the accelerated conditions has not yet been reported.…”