Structural, optical and electrical properties of single-phase wurtzite ZnMgAlO thin films deposited by ultrasonic spray pyrolysis

Bose, Sourav; Fadel, C.; Hamady, Sidi Ould Saad; Perroud, Olivier; Guyon, Julien; Weiss, Laurent; Fressengeas, Nicolas

doi:10.1016/j.micrna.2023.207543

Cited by 2 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…These parameters are the precursors' solution pH and concentration, the shaping air pressure, and the flow rate. The other deposition parameters, namely the growth temperature, the nozzle-to-substrate distance, the number of spray cycles, the nozzle speed, and dwell time, were fixed to their optimized values as obtained in previous studies using the Accumist nozzle [6,14] since they are not noticeably affected by the Impact nozzle. Table 1 summarizes the deposition parameters range and the obtained optimal values; and 2) The postannealing temperature, varied from 200 to 400 °C and its duration, varied from 0.5 to 2 h under nitrogen atmosphere.…”

Section: Results and Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A schematic view of this system is shown in Figure 1. This nozzle offers the advantage, compared to that used in previous studies (Accumist), [6,14] of producing homogeneous films on larger surfaces. Deposition was carried out in ambient atmosphere.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…[4] In addition to these sustainability issues, their use does not make it possible to optimize photovoltaic efficiency due in particular to the nonoptimal band alignment with the absorber, [5] reducing the voltage, and their absorption of part of the solar spectrum which therefore does not reach the absorber, thus reducing the photocurrent. The Zn 1Àx Mg x O semiconductor has three key advantages that make it a promising replacement for current buffer layers in thin-film solar cells: 1) it is made from abundant and nontoxic elements, that is, magnesium (crustal abundance of 23 300 ppm) and zinc (crustal abundance of 70 ppm); [4] 2) it can be produced using low-cost, energy-efficient techniques such as ultrasonic spray pyrolysis; [1,6,7] and 3) its optical and electrical properties can be modulated through the magnesium content and fabrication process, allowing for optimal band alignment and bandgap, high transparency, suitable resistivity, and carrier concentration. In addition to these potential advantages, the possibility of obtaining Zn 1Àx Mg x O thin films with adjustable n-type conductivity makes it possible to develop solar cells with p-type oxide absorbers having the same advantages related to abundancy and nontoxicity such as Cu 2 O.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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ZnMgO Thin Films by Ultrasonic Spray Pyrolysis: Modulation of Optical and Electrical Properties by Post‐annealing and Magnesium Composition

El Berjali,

Ould Saad Hamady,

Boulet

et al. 2024

Physica Status Solidi (a)

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ZnMgO semiconductor is of major interest in sustainable thin‐film solar cells in order to replace buffer layers based on nonabundant or toxic elements. In addition, it has the potential 1) to allow optimal band alignment with absorbers such as CIGS, CZTS, and Cu2O; 2) to have high transparency; 3) to have adjustable properties for use as a window or buffer layer; and 4) to be deposited using low‐cost and energy‐efficient techniques such as ultrasonic spray pyrolysis. This study focuses on modulating ZnMgO properties with the optimization of the ultrasonic spray pyrolysis and post‐annealing parameters. Optical transmission, X‐ray diffraction, and van der Pauw/Hall effect measurements are used to study the material properties. Thin films with a strong <002> preferred orientation are obtained with large crystallite size (42–80 nm), high transparency (>90%), a bandgap increase from 3.28 to 3.34 eV with magnesium composition and annealing, an optimal Urbach energy of 0.068 eV, and electrical properties modulated by magnesium composition and annealing with resistivity varying from 6.520 Ωcm down to 0.022 Ωcm and a carrier concentration from 4.8 × 1017 up to 1.4 × 1020 cm−3.

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Section: Results and Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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ZnMgO Thin Films by Ultrasonic Spray Pyrolysis: Modulation of Optical and Electrical Properties by Post‐annealing and Magnesium Composition

El Berjali,

Ould Saad Hamady,

Boulet

et al. 2024

Physica Status Solidi (a)

Self Cite

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“…Metal oxide semiconductor alloys such as ZnMgAlO exhibit great potential as candidates for future sustainable energy production. Indeed, thin films based on these materials (i) contain only abundant and nontoxic elements; (ii) can be deposited using low-cost and low ecological footprint techniques such as ultrasonic spray pyrolysis as recently shown; [1][2][3] (iii) have optical and electrical properties that can be extensively modulated through the composition, the fabrication process and the post treatment to optimize their use in solar cells. In addition, their chemical stability and raw materials availability enable fabrication using simple, low-cost, eco-friendly, and scalable techniques.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

High quality ZnMgAlO thin films by ultrasonic spray pyrolysis: tuning of optoelectronic properties for use as TCO, window layer, and buffer layer in all-oxide solar cells

El Berjali,

Ould Saad Hamady,

Boulet

et al. 2024

Oxide-Based Materials and Devices XV

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The development of solar cells with a low ecological footprint requires the optimization of semiconductor thin films having different and complementary optoelectronic properties: transparent electrode (TCO: transparent conductive oxide), window, buffer and absorber layers. Oxide semiconductors have two crucial advantages for this purpose: they can be developed using low-cost techniques such as ultrasonic spray pyrolysis (USP), and their optoelectronic properties can be extensively modulated through the chemical composition to adapt them to each of the layers. ZnMgAlO thin films have been developed by USP by optimizing the most impacting growth parameters: concentrations and pH of the precursors solution, substrate temperature, flow rate, nozzle speed, dwell time and shaping air pressure. In addition, a post-deposition annealing process has been developed by optimizing the annealing temperature, duration and nitrogen flow. The thickness can be easily adjusted by the deposition parameters from 50 nm to 700 nm and films investigated in the present study have a thickness of 200 nm. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis evidenced single-phase wurtzite structure with a strong preferred <002> orientation. A grain size varying from 40 nm to 70 nm was achieved, thus being in the upper range of the state of the art. Optical transmission results are well correlated with XRD data and indicate the bandgap increases linearly with the magnesium composition, an Urbach energy of about 70 meV, and a transparency of more than 90 % in the visible region. A Mg-modulable electrical resistivity of 10 −2 Ω • cm to 10 2 Ω • cm was obtained with a mobility of approximately 5 cm 2 V −1 s −1 . The incorporation of aluminum into ZnMgO was achieved for the first time by USP and making possible to adjust the resistivity for application as a TCO. These results show the full potential of ZnMgAlO for application in all-oxide solar cells.

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Structural, optical and electrical properties of single-phase wurtzite ZnMgAlO thin films deposited by ultrasonic spray pyrolysis

Cited by 2 publications

References 21 publications

ZnMgO Thin Films by Ultrasonic Spray Pyrolysis: Modulation of Optical and Electrical Properties by Post‐annealing and Magnesium Composition

ZnMgO Thin Films by Ultrasonic Spray Pyrolysis: Modulation of Optical and Electrical Properties by Post‐annealing and Magnesium Composition

High quality ZnMgAlO thin films by ultrasonic spray pyrolysis: tuning of optoelectronic properties for use as TCO, window layer, and buffer layer in all-oxide solar cells

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