Fabrication of Cu2SnS3 thin film solar cells via a sol-gel technique in air

Liu, Xin; Li, Xinyu; Li, Xiang; Li, Qiulian; Zhang, Daoyong; Yu, Na; Wang, Shurong

doi:10.1016/j.physb.2021.413613

Cited by 13 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…[ 22,27,28 ] In previous reports, the formation of voids observed at the bottom of the CTS absorber layer deposited on the flexible substrates results in poor device performance. [ 29 ] To overcome this limitation, this study introduced a precursor that was twice as thick as the existing one, and a post‐annealing process was performed in a sulfur atmosphere using a tube‐type rapid thermal annealing (RTA) system. Finally, CTS TFSCs were fabricated using the CTS absorber layer, and the performance of fabricated devices based on both absorber materials was analyzed.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Improved J_sc by Increasing the Absorber Layer Thickness of Monoclinic‐Dominated Cu₂SnS₃ Thin Film Solar Cells Fabricated on Flexible Mo Foil

Kim

Gour

et al. 2022

Solar RRL

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Cu2SnS3 (CTS) has various crystal structures and a wide bandgap energy range of 0.93–1.77 eV, depending on the crystal structure. The optical properties of CTS are very similar to those of Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS)‐based materials, as reported extensively in the past and is therefore in the spotlight as an absorber material. However, CTS thin film solar cells (TFSCs) are mainly studied on non‐flexible substrates, and little research has been focused on flexible substrates. When a flexible substrate is applied to CTS TFSCs, Zn is omitted from CZTS‐based materials, reducing raw material costs and enabling a roll‐to‐roll fabrication process; hence, the economic benefit is doubled. When CTS TFSCs are fabricated on a Mo foil substrate, voids exist at the back interface and the device characteristics markedly deteriorate. To solve this problem, the thickness of the CTS absorber layer is increased in this study by doubling the thickness of the precursor. As a result, Cu, Sn, and S display a more uniform distribution in the absorber layer, which further improves the light‐absorbing characteristics of CTS TFSCs. Finally, a device with a power conversion efficiency of 1.31% is obtained.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Improved J_sc by Increasing the Absorber Layer Thickness of Monoclinic‐Dominated Cu₂SnS₃ Thin Film Solar Cells Fabricated on Flexible Mo Foil

Kim

Gour

et al. 2022

Solar RRL

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“…This is the evidence of crystallinity diminution with stress augmentation and increases in the dislocation density in Li 0.03 CTS compared to undoped CTS thin films. [52,53] We can explain this observation due to the reduction of the deposition rate and thickness in Li 0.03 CTS thin film (see Table 1) [54] or due to the incorporation of a Li atom into CTS thin film that has a different atomic radius. [55][56][57] The growth of thin film is decelerated when the ablated target for the PLD system is doped with Li atoms, which means that Li 0.03 CTS thin films have lower thickness with more dislocation density and stress.…”

Section: Structural Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of Li Doping on Cu₂SnS₃/n‐Si Heterojunction Solar Cells: Experiments and Simulation

Houimi

Gezgi̇n

Mercimek

et al. 2022

Cryst. Res. Technol.

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Cu 2 SnS 3 (CTS) semiconductor material owns very interesting absorbing properties that allow it to be effectively utilized in many thin-film-based heterojunction solar cells. In this work, using the ball milling method, a mixture of pure elemental powders is used to synthesize CTS material. Homemade undoped and Li-doped target pellets are used to form CTS-doped and CTS-undoped thin films. The crystallinity investigation of synthesized targets and thin films confirms the formation of CTS tetragonal phase. Compositional, morphologic, and optic studies are also made to examine the effect of Li atom incorporation on different properties of CTS thin films. These CTS thin films are also incorporated into heterojunction solar cells (Al/n-Si/CTS/Ag and Al/n-Si/Li 0.03 CTS/Ag). In addition, J-V characteristics of both CTS and Li 0.03 CTS solar cells are demonstrated and discussed in details. The effect of CTS thin films' thickness on the performance is studied using Solar Cell Capacitance Simulator (SCAPS-1D) program. The results of the calculation are discussed in details and compared with the experimental results. An increase in efficiency is achieved in solar cells based on Li-doped CTS thin films, and it is discussed in detail along with SCAPS-1D simulation that is carried out depending on the thickness of CTS thin films.

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“…In a series of semiconductor nanocrystals, tin-based nanocrystals have always been a unique existence because they do not contain highly toxic elements, such as Cd and Hg, and belong to green and environmental protection materials. Not only that, the reserves and price of tin have obvious advantages, compared with the nanocrystals containing In, making it an important candidate for replacing Ag–In–S and Cu–In–S nanocrystals. , In the past decade, nanocrystals such as Cu–Sn–S (CTS) and Ag–Sn–S have been widely used in thin film solar cells and made significant progress, but the research in photocatalytic degradation, photocatalytic hydrogen production, and energy storage is significantly less than that in solar cells. ,− However, it is worth noting that nanocrystals such as CTS and ATS have excellent optical properties, such as a high absorbance coefficient and adjustable band gap, which make them promising in the field of photocatalysis and photoelectrocatalysis. − Several recent reports have successfully demonstrated that CTS and ATS and their composite materials can perform photocatalytic degradation of dyes and photocatalysts for H 2 production, − but most of them are not pure ATS and CTS but composites; the preparation process is very complex, and the small band gap of ATS material (1.3–1.6 eV) leads to the unsatisfactory photocatalytic efficiency . Moreover, the preparation of metal sulfide NCs is mostly carried out in organic solutions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Water-Soluble Ag–Sn–S Nanocrystals Partially Coated with ZnS Shells for Photocatalytic Degradation of Organic Dyes

Shao

et al. 2023

ACS Appl. Nano Mater.

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Water-soluble nonrare metal Ag–Sn–S nanocrystals (ATS NCs) were green synthesized at room temperature using the interfacial nucleation mechanism. Interfacial acids regulate the concentration of hydroxide ions outside the complex, the sulfur sources attack the cations at the complex interface, and the sulfur sources form covalent bonds to complete crystal nucleation and growth at room temperature. The band gap of ATS NCs synthesized by the interface nucleation mechanism is 2.32∼2.59 eV, which gives it a higher redox ability and very high photocatalytic degradation rate. A total of 0.8 mg of Ag2SnS3 NCs can achieve photocatalytic degradation of more than 99% of MO (1 mg) under visible light (λ > 420 nm) in 2 min with a photocatalytic rate constant of 2.1247 min–1. Interfacial regulation of acid protonation on the surface of ATS NCs produced more defect states, which was conducive to trapping holes (h+), promoting their transfer to organic pollutants, and improving the photocatalytic oxidation degradation efficiency. Active species of trapping experiments showing photocatalytic degradation of active species as h+, ·O2–, and ·OH do not act as active species for MO degradation in this system. ATS NCs have ultra-high photocatalytic activity and further improve their photocatalytic efficiency by partially coated ZnS shells. Finally, we present the mechanism of photocatalytic degradation of ATS NCs and analyze the possible applications of ATS NCs. Due to its unique advantages of direct synthesis in organic pollutants at room temperature, it is expected to achieve a breakthrough in the practical treatment of large-scale industrial wastewater.

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Fabrication of Cu2SnS3 thin film solar cells via a sol-gel technique in air

Cited by 13 publications

References 25 publications

Improved J_sc by Increasing the Absorber Layer Thickness of Monoclinic‐Dominated Cu₂SnS₃ Thin Film Solar Cells Fabricated on Flexible Mo Foil

Improved J_sc by Increasing the Absorber Layer Thickness of Monoclinic‐Dominated Cu₂SnS₃ Thin Film Solar Cells Fabricated on Flexible Mo Foil

Effect of Li Doping on Cu₂SnS₃/n‐Si Heterojunction Solar Cells: Experiments and Simulation

Water-Soluble Ag–Sn–S Nanocrystals Partially Coated with ZnS Shells for Photocatalytic Degradation of Organic Dyes

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Fabrication of Cu2SnS3 thin film solar cells via a sol-gel technique in air

Cited by 13 publications

References 25 publications

Improved Jsc by Increasing the Absorber Layer Thickness of Monoclinic‐Dominated Cu2SnS3 Thin Film Solar Cells Fabricated on Flexible Mo Foil

Improved Jsc by Increasing the Absorber Layer Thickness of Monoclinic‐Dominated Cu2SnS3 Thin Film Solar Cells Fabricated on Flexible Mo Foil

Effect of Li Doping on Cu2SnS3/n‐Si Heterojunction Solar Cells: Experiments and Simulation

Water-Soluble Ag–Sn–S Nanocrystals Partially Coated with ZnS Shells for Photocatalytic Degradation of Organic Dyes

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Product

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Improved J_sc by Increasing the Absorber Layer Thickness of Monoclinic‐Dominated Cu₂SnS₃ Thin Film Solar Cells Fabricated on Flexible Mo Foil

Improved J_sc by Increasing the Absorber Layer Thickness of Monoclinic‐Dominated Cu₂SnS₃ Thin Film Solar Cells Fabricated on Flexible Mo Foil

Effect of Li Doping on Cu₂SnS₃/n‐Si Heterojunction Solar Cells: Experiments and Simulation