Preparation of Cu(In,Ga)Se2 photovoltaic absorbers by an aqueous metal selenite co-precipitation route

Abstract

Title: Preparation of Cu(In,Ga)Se2 photovoltaic absorbers by an aqueous metal selenite coprecipitation route Abstract: In this paper, we report a novel and simple solution-based approach for the fabrication of chalcopyrite Cu(In,Ga)Se2 thin film solar cells. A novel aqueous co-precipitation method based on metal selenites, M2(SeO3)x (M= Cu, In, Ga) precursors, was investigated. The resulting powder, dispersed in a binder to form an ink, was coated on a substrate by doctor blade technique. A soft annealing treatment enabled the reduction into the corresponding metal selenides leading after rapid thermal processing (RTP) to crystalline chalcopyrite absorber. The obtained layer provides good compositional control and adequate morphology for solar cell applications. Doctor blade printing in atmospheric environment offers an opportunity for direct application of the absorber material at largescale. The water-based synthesis is a sustainable and simple procedure, and together with doctor blade printing, provides a potential cost-effective advantage over conventional fabrication processes (vacuum-based deposition techniques).The short circuit current (Jsc), open circuit voltage (Voc), fill factor (FF), and total area power conversion efficiency (Eff.) of the device are 26 mA/cm2, 450 mV, 62%, and 7.2 %, respectively. The effective band gap of 1.12 eV confirmed the Ga-incorporation in the CIGS crystal lattice. 15Abstract 16 In this paper, we report a novel and simple solution-based approach for the fabrication

Easy and low-cost aqueous precipitation method to obtain Cu2ZnSn(S, Se)4 thin layers

“…CZTSSe powder was fabricated using a modified precipitation method described previously for CIGS absorber layer [40][41][42][43]48 . The process is divided on three-stages: 1) precipitation of metal selenites; 2) paste preparation and deposition and 3) thermal treatment and kesterite crystallization.…”

“…It is based on co-precipitaion of metallic selenites precursors in aqueous medium [38][39][40][41][42][43] . After deposition by Doctor Blade technique, the layer is thermal treated in sulfur atmosphere.…”

Obtención de estructuras calcopirita (CIGS) y kesterita (CZTS) como absorbentes para dispositivos fotovoltaicos de capa fina mediante métodos de síntesis de bajo coste

“…x Ga x )Se 2 [14,29] o Cu(In 1-x Ga x )(S,Se) 2 [28,30,31]. El material más ampliamente estudiado es el Cu(In 1-x Ga x )Se 2 , debido a la fácil introducción del Ga en su red cristalina y su estabilidad composicional.…”

“…Una vía novedosa desarrollada en la presente tesis doctoral es la co-precipitación acuosa de selenitos metálicos como precursores a partir de los cuales se obtiene la fase cristalina de interés tras deposición y tratamiento [29]. Dicho procedimiento se estudia en profundidad en los aparatados posteriores del presente trabajo de investigación.…”

“…Basándose en los estudios previos realizados acerca de la precipitación de selenitos para la obtención de estructuras calcopirita [29,68,69], se desarrolló este método para la obtención de estructuras kesterita a partir de especies seleníticas metálicas [68]. En este aparatado se ha optimizado el proceso de síntesis de precursores, ampliado la caracterización del material obtenido y se han realizado estudios de deposición (sustratos y pastas), de temperatura y ciclos de calefacción y estudios eléctricos.…”