Growth of CZTS‐Based Monograins and Their Application to Membrane Solar Cells

Abstract

The idea of producing solar cells from powder materials is nearly as old as the history of modern silicon-based solar cells. Just three years after AT&T Bell Lab's Chapin, Fuller, and Pearson released their first commercially attractive silicon solar cell [1], Hoffman's Electronics patented a method to produce solar modules from silicon powders [2]. Based on Hoffman's Electronics' patents, Ties Siebold te Velde of Philips Company in Eindhoven filed the first patent on monograin membrane devices for radiation detection, use in a solar battery, a LED, etc. [3]. Eighteen further patents had been filed by 1973, specifying methods of membrane production as well as new applications such as the production of printed circuits. Philips continued to produce monograin membrane-based photoconductive elements containing 35-45 μm Cu-doped CdS particles in Hamburg until the mid-1990s. Meanwhile, in the mid-1970s the technology to produce silicon spheres and insert these into an aluminum foil with appropriately placed holes had been developed at Texas Instruments in order to electrolyze a solution to store light energy as chemical energy in electrolysis products [4].

Vegard Relation and Raman Band Reference Data Generated from Bulk Crystals of Kesterite-Phase Composition Series Cu2ZnSnS4xSe4–4x (CZTSSe, 0 ≤ x ≤ 1)

“…In earlier work using salts, Grossberg et al produced large-grained CZTSSe solid solutions from molten KI salt for a characterization series, 9 and the formation of CZTS crystallites from the KCl/NaCl eutectic was reported as a synthetic route by Ionkin et al 12 Also, the method has been used by Mellikov et al to make macroscopic "monograin" crystallites of CZTS. 13 Here, we report the use of crystallization from molten NaCl/KCl to form bulk crystals for the entire composition range Cu 2 ZnSnS 4x Se 4−4x (0 ≤ x ≤ 1 in steps of 0.1). This paper also includes some work on crystal growth nucleation onto a separate flat silica seed plate.…”

Spatially resolved opto‐electrical performance investigations of Cu2ZnSnS3.2Se0.8 photovoltaic devices

“…This is followed by a heat treatment step at 740°C and the deposition of cadmium sulfide (CdS) by chemical bath deposition employing cadmium acetate as cadmium source and thiourea as sulfur source in an ammonia solution. A more detailed description of the synthesis and post treatment processes of CZTSSe monograins can be found elsewhere . By partial embedding monograins in a thin layer of polymer a socalled MGL is formed.…”

“…A more detailed description of the synthesis and post treatment processes of CZTSSe monograins can be found elsewhere. 10 By partial embedding monograins in a thin layer of polymer a socalled MGL is formed. The front contact is established by sputtering a transparent conductive oxide (TCO) layer (intrinsic and aluminum doped zinc oxide).…”

Stability, reliability, upscaling and possible technological applications of kesterite solar cells

“…The stability of powders and modules has been investigated in detail [10,11,18,19]. A critical parameter that was found to be important for the long-time stability of the grains used for this technology (up to 3000 h at 85 • C) is the exact ratio of anions (S 2− and/or Se 2− ) to cations (Cu + , Zn 2+ , Sn 4+ ) and their relative content and real oxidation state in the precursor material.…”