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Efficiency enhancement of Cu2ZnSnS4 solar cells via surface treatment engineering.

ABSTRACT: Pure-sulphide Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) thin film solar cells were prepared by a low-cost, non-toxic and high-throughput method based on the thermal decomposition and reaction of sol-gel precursor solution, followed by a high temperature sulfurization process in sulphur atmosphere, which usually gave rise to the unexpected Cu-poor and Zn-rich phase after sulfurization. In order to remove the formation of detrimental secondary phases, e.g. ZnS, a novel method with hydrochloric acid solution treatment to the CZTS absorber layer surface was employed. By using this method, a competitive power conversion efficiency as high as 4.73% was obtained, which is a factor of 4.8 of that of the control CZTS solar cell without surface treatment. This presents a customized process for CZTS photovoltaic technologies that is more environmentally friendly and considerably less toxic than the widely used KCN etching approach.

SUBMITTER: Chen R

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5792906 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Efficiency enhancement of Cu2ZnSnS4 solar cells via surface treatment engineering.

Chen Rongrong R Fan Jiandong J Li Hongliang H Liu Chong C Mai Yaohua Y

Royal Society open science 20180103 1

Pure-sulphide Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) thin film solar cells were prepared by a low-cost, non-toxic and high-throughput method based on the thermal decomposition and reaction of sol-gel precursor solution, followed by a high temperature sulfurization process in sulphur atmosphere, which usually gave rise to the unexpected Cu-poor and Zn-rich phase after sulfurization. In order to remove the formation of detrimental secondary phases, e.g. ZnS, a novel method with hydrochloric acid s ...[more]

PMID: 29410829

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