Will ultrathin CIGS solar cells overtake the champion thin-film cells? Updated SCAPS baseline models reveal main differences between ultrathin and standard CIGS

Violas, André; Oliveira, António J. N.; Teixeira, Jennifer P.; Lopes, Tomás S.; Barbosa, João R. S.; Fernandes, Paulo A.; Salomé, Pedro M. P.

doi:10.1016/j.solmat.2022.111792

Cited by 16 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 91 publications

(220 reference statements)

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“…The excitation intensity was ~0.1 W.cm −2 and the frequency was 3 MHz with an excitation wavelength of 532 nm. The one dimensional SCAPS was used following Violas et al baseline 71 to fit the experimental J-V curves allowing for an in-depth discussion of the obtained electrical performance of the produced devices.…”

Section: Substrates and Solar Cells Characterisationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cu(In,Ga)Se2 based ultrathin solar cells the pathway from lab rigid to large scale flexible technology

et al. 2023

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The incorporation of interface passivation structures in ultrathin Cu(In,Ga)Se2 based solar cells is shown. The fabrication used an industry scalable lithography technique—nanoimprint lithography (NIL)—for a 15 × 15 cm2 dielectric layer patterning. Devices with a NIL nanopatterned dielectric layer are benchmarked against electron-beam lithography (EBL) patterning, using rigid substrates. The NIL patterned device shows similar performance to the EBL patterned device.The impact of the lithographic processes in the rigid solar cells’ performance were evaluated via X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy and through a Solar Cell Capacitance Simulator. The device on stainless-steel showed a slightly lower performance than the rigid approach, due to additional challenges of processing steel substrates, even though scanning transmission electron microscopy did not show clear evidence of impurity diffusion. Notwithstanding, time-resolved photoluminescence results strongly suggested elemental diffusion from the flexible substrate. Nevertheless, bending tests on the stainless-steel device demonstrated the mechanical stability of the CIGS-based device.

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Section: Substrates and Solar Cells Characterisationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cu(In,Ga)Se2 based ultrathin solar cells the pathway from lab rigid to large scale flexible technology

et al. 2023

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“…This thin buffer layer is utilized to prevent diffusion during deposition operations and improve cell stability [ 141 ]. CIGS thin film solar cells are highly efficient photovoltaic (PV) technologies [ 142 ]. The CIGS thin-film solar cell with the highest efficiency to date is 23.35% in 2019 [ 143 ].…”

Section: Applications Of Zns Thin Filmsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of Chemical Bath Deposition Variables on the Properties of Zinc Sulfide Thin Films: A Review

et al. 2023

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Zinc sulfide (ZnS) thin films prepared using the chemical bath deposition (CBD) method have demonstrated great viability in various uses, encompassing photonics, field emission devices, field emitters, sensors, electroluminescence devices, optoelectronic devices, and are crucial as buffer layers of solar cells. These semiconducting thin films for industrial and research applications are popular among researchers. CBD appears attractive due to its simplicity, cost-effectiveness, low energy consumption, low-temperature compatibility, and superior uniformity for large-area deposition. However, numerous parameters influence the CBD mechanism and the quality of the thin films. This study offers a comprehensive review of the impact of various parameters that can affect different properties of ZnS films grown on CBD. This paper provides an extensive review of the film growth and structural and optical properties of ZnS thin films influenced by various parameters, which include complexing agents, the concentration ratio of the reactants, stirring speed, humidity, deposition temperature, deposition time, pH value, precursor types, and annealing temperature environments. Various studies screened the key influences on the CBD parameters concerning the quality of the resulting films. This work will motivate researchers to provide additional insight into the preparation of ZnS thin films using CBD to optimize this deposition method to its fullest potential.

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“…The excitation intensity was approximately 0.1 W.cm -2 and the frequency was 3 MHz with an excitation wavelength of 532 nm. The one dimensional SCAPS was used following Violas et al baseline 37 to fit the experimental J-V curves allowing for an in-depth discussion of the obtained electrical performance of the produced devices.…”

Section: Substrates and Solar Cells Characterisationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cu(In,Ga)Se2 based ultrathin solar cells: the pathway from lab rigid to large scale flexible technology

Lopes

Teixeira

Curado

et al. 2022

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For the first time, the incorporation of interface passivation structures in ultrathin Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGS) based solar cells is shown in a flexible lightweight stainless-steel substrate. The fabrication was based on an industry scalable lithography technique - nanoimprint lithography (NIL) - for a 15x15 cm2 dielectric layer patterning, needed to reduce optoelectronic losses at the rear interface. The nanopatterning schemes are usually developed by lithographic techniques or by processes with limited scalability and reproducibility (nanoparticle lift-off, spin-coating, etc). However, in this work the dielectric layer is patterned using NIL, a low cost, large area, high resolution, and high throughput technique. To assess the NIL performance, devices with a NIL nanopatterned dielectric layer are benchmarked against electron-beam lithography (EBL) patterning, using rigid substrates. Up to now, EBL is considered the most reliable technique for patterning laboratory samples. The device patterned by NIL shows similar light to power conversion efficiency average values compared to the EBL patterned device - 12.6 % vs 12.3 %, respectively - highlighting the NIL potential for application in the solar cell sector. Moreover, the impact of the lithographic processes, such as different etch by-products, in the rigid solar cells’ figures of merit were evaluated from an elemental point of view via X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy and electrically through a Solar Cell Capacitance Simulator (SCAPS) fitting procedure. After an optimised NIL process, the device on stainless-steel achieved an average power conversion efficiency value of 11.7 % - a slightly lower value than the one obtained for the rigid approach, due to additional challenges raised by processing and handling steel substrates, even though scanning transmission electron microscopy did not show any clear evidence of impurity diffusion towards the absorber. Notwithstanding, time-resolved photoluminescence results strongly suggested the presence of additional non-radiative recombination mechanisms in the stainless-steel absorber, which were not detected in the rigid solar cells, and are compatible with elemental diffusion from the substrate. Nevertheless, bending tests on the stainless-steel device demonstrated the mechanical stability of the CIGS-based device up to 500 bending cycles.

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Will ultrathin CIGS solar cells overtake the champion thin-film cells? Updated SCAPS baseline models reveal main differences between ultrathin and standard CIGS

Cited by 16 publications

References 91 publications

Cu(In,Ga)Se2 based ultrathin solar cells the pathway from lab rigid to large scale flexible technology

Cu(In,Ga)Se2 based ultrathin solar cells the pathway from lab rigid to large scale flexible technology

Effect of Chemical Bath Deposition Variables on the Properties of Zinc Sulfide Thin Films: A Review

Cu(In,Ga)Se2 based ultrathin solar cells: the pathway from lab rigid to large scale flexible technology

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