Highly Improved Sb₂S₃ Sensitized‐Inorganic–Organic Heterojunction Solar Cells and Quantification of Traps by Deep‐Level Transient Spectroscopy

Abstract

The light-harvesting Sb 2 S 3 surface on mesoporous-TiO 2 in inorganic-organic heterojunction solar cells is sulfurized with thioacetamide (TA). The photovoltaic performances are compared before and after TA treatment, and the state of the Sb 2 S 3 is investigated by X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and deep-level transient spectroscopy (DLTS). Although there are no differences in crystallinity and composition, the TA-treated solar cells exhibit signifi cantly enhanced performance compared to pristine Sb 2 S 3 -sensitized solar cells. From DLTS analysis, the performance enhancement is mainly attributed to the extinction of trap sites, which are present at a density of (2-5) × 10 14 cm −3 in Sb 2 S 3 , by TA treatment. Through such a simple treatment, the cell records an overall power conversion effi ciency (PCE) of 7.5% through a metal mask under simulated illumination (AM 1.5G, 100 mW cm -2 ) with a very high open circuit voltage of 711.0 mV. This PCE is, thus far, the highest reported for fully solid-state chalcogenide-sensitized solar cells.

A green and facile hydrothermal approach for the synthesis of high-quality semi-conducting Sb2S3 thin films

“…Notably, the peak relative to the O 1s excitation was nearly undetectable for the Sb2S3 film annealed at 450 ºC, and the binding energy of the Sb 3d5/2 peak showed a slightly negative shift (approximately 0.2 eV) compared with that of the Sb2S3 film without annealing. This negative shift of Sb 3d5/2 peak might be attributed to the decreased adsorption of oxygen on the surface of the Sb2S3 films [24][25][26]. Meanwhile, the S 2p spectra of all the Sb2S3 films were also deconvoluted as shown in Fig.…”

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

“…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. In addition, various materials such as TiO 2 , 1 ZnO, [15][16][17][18] or SnO 2 19 have been utilized as an electron transporting layer (ETL) and polythiophenes, 1-4 2,2',7,7'-tetrakis(N,Ndi-p-methoxyphenylamine)-9,9'-spirobifluorene, 20 ZnPc, CuSCN,…”

“…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. In addition, various materials such as TiO 2 , 1 ZnO, [15][16][17][18] or SnO 2 19 have been utilized as an electron transporting layer (ETL) and polythiophenes, 1-4 2,2',7,7'-tetrakis(N,Ndi-p-methoxyphenylamine)-9,9'-spirobifluorene, 20 ZnPc, CuSCN, 21 MoO 3 , 22 or NiO 23 have been used as a hole transporting layer (HTL) of the Sb 2 S 3 based solar cells, however, optimization of the combinations of ETL and HTL in terms of the durability has also not yet been explored.…”

“…Various materials such as antimony sulfide (Sb 2 S 3 ), [1][2][3][4] antimony selenide, 5 lead sulfide, 6 cadmium selenide, 7 lead-halogen perovskite [8][9][10] have recently been applied for organic-inorganic hybrid solar cells. Among these materials, Sb 2 S 3 has much attraction for photovoltaics in terms of appropriate bandgap, high absorption coefficient, low toxicity, and abundance.…”

“…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.…”