Fabrication of CuInSe2 films and solar cells by the sequential evaporation of In2Se3 and Cu2Se binary compounds

Another route to fabricate single-phase chalcogenides by post-selenization of Cu–In–Ga precursors sputter deposited from a single ternary target

“…It is worth noting that the selenized precursor layers comprising In 2 Se 3 and Cu 2 Se have been often prepared either from Cu-In elemental sources [13,16] or directly from InSe x (or In 2 Se 3 ) and Cu 2 Se binary compounds, and proven to be good candidates for the fabrication of chalcopyrite CuInSe 2 by the following the chemical reaction mechanism: In 2 Se 3 +Cu 2 Se-2CuInSe 2 [17,18]. (In,Ga) 2 Se 3 was also used by NREL as the source material at the so-called ''three-stage'' process to further react with the elemental sources, forming the record-performance CIGS absorber layer [19].…”

Chemical incorporation of copper into indium selenide thin‐films for processing of CuInSe2 solar cells

“…A simpler approach might be advantageous for large-scale production of CIGS solar cells and so methods have been investigated that terminate the second stage before the CIGS layer composition turns Cu-rich [3][4][5][6]. In methods where the material deposition is performed at relatively low temperatures, a high temperature anneal is employed to react the resulting bilayer structures [7][8][9][10]. Se vapour is often supplied during this annealing stage, in which case it may be referred to as selenization.…”

Gallium: Inorganic ChemistryBased in part on the article Gallium: Inorganic Chemistry by Andrew R. Barron which appeared in theEncyclopedia of Inorganic Chemistry, First Edition.

“…55 The schematic of typical CIGS solar cell is shown in Figure 16. Current methods for depositing ternary crystallite compounds include coevaporation of elements, 56 or alloys, 57 electrodeposition, 58 reactive-sintering, 59 and flash evaporation, 60 which are often followed by sulphurization/selenization steps, at elevated temperatures. The current world record cell has been reported by NREL with an efficiency of 19.2% based on their patented three-stage process.…”