Kesterite; Thin film solar cell; physical vapor deposition; earth-abundant materials; absorber layer
Abstract :
[en] This paper provides an overview of the physical vapor technologies used to synthesize Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 thin films as absorber layers for photovoltaic applications. Through the years, CZT(S,Se) thin films have been fabricated using sequential stacking or co-sputtering of precursors as well as using sequential or co-evaporation of elemental sources, leading to high-efficient solar cells. In addition, pulsed laser deposition of composite targets and monograin growth by the molten salt method were developed as alternative methods for kesterite layers deposition. This review presents the growing increase of the kesterite-based solar cell efficiencies achieved over the recent years. A historical description of the main issues limiting this efficiency and of the experimental pathways designed to prevent or limit these issues is provided and discussed as well. A final section is dedicated to the description of promising process steps aiming at further improvements of solar cell efficiency, such as alkali doping and bandgap grading.
Research Center/Unit :
CESAM—Q-MAT—Solid State Physics, Interfaces and Nanostructures, Physics Institute B5a, Allée du Six Août 19, B-4000 Liege, Belgium Institute for Material Research (IMO), Hasselt University, Agoralaan gebouw H, B-3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium IMEC division IMOMEC—partner in Solliance, Wetenschapspark 1, B-3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, Departamento de Fisica Aplicada, C/Francisco Tomaas y Valiente 7, E-28049 Madrid, Spain DTU Fotonik, Technical University of Denmark, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark Abteilung Energie-und Halbleiterforschung (EHF), Institut für Physik, Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg, Germany Convergence Research Center for Solar Energy, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), Daegu 42988, Republic of Korea ENEA,Casaccia Research Center, via Anguillarese 301, I-00123 Roma, Italy Scanning Probe Microscopy Laboratory, University of Luxembourg 162a, Avenue de la Faïencerie, L-1511, Luxembourg Catalonia Institute for Energy Research (IREC), Jardins de les Dones de Negre 1 2pl., E-08930 Sant Adrià del Besòs-Barcelona, Spain Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), 291 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Research Center for Photovoltaics, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305- 8568, Japan Department of Materials and Environmental Technology, Tallinn University of Technology, Ehitajate tee 5, 19086 Tallinn, Estonia Imec division IMOMEC (partner in Solliance), Wetenschapspark 1, B-3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium Energyville, Thor Park 8320, B-3600 Genk, Belgium
Disciplines :
Physics
Author, co-author :
Ratz, Thomas ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de physique > Département de physique
Caballero, Raquel; Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, Departamento de Fisica Aplicada, C/Francisco Tomaas y Valiente 7, E-28049 Madrid, Spain
Léon, Maximo; Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, Departamento de Fisica Aplicada, C/Francisco Tomaas y Valiente 7, E-28049 Madrid, Spain
Canulescu, Stella; DTU Fotonik, Technical University of Denmark, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
Schou, Jorgen; DTU Fotonik, Technical University of Denmark, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
Gütay, Leuven; Abteilung Energie-und Halbleiterforschung (EHF), Institut für Physik, Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg, Germany
Pareek, Devendra; Abteilung Energie-und Halbleiterforschung (EHF), Institut für Physik, Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg, Germany
Taskesen, Teoman; Abteilung Energie-und Halbleiterforschung (EHF), Institut für Physik, Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg, Germany
Kim, Dae-Hwan; Convergence Research Center for Solar Energy, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), Daegu 42988, Republic of Korea
Kang, J.-K.; Convergence Research Center for Solar Energy, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), Daegu 42988, Republic of Korea
Malerba, Claudia; ENEA,Casaccia Research Center, via Anguillarese 301, I-00123 Roma, Italy
Redigner, Alex; Scanning Probe Microscopy Laboratory, University of Luxembourg 162a, Avenue de la Faïencerie, L-1511, Luxembourg
Saucedo, Edgardo; Catalonia Institute for Energy Research (IREC), Jardins de les Dones de Negre 1 2pl., E-08930 Sant Adrià del Besòs-Barcelona, Spain
Shin, Byungha; Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), 291 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
Tampo, Hitoshi; National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Research Center for Photovoltaics, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305- 8568, Japan
Timmo, Kristi; Department of Materials and Environmental Technology, Tallinn University of Technology, Ehitajate tee 5, 19086 Tallinn, Estonia
Nguyen, Ngoc Duy ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de physique > Physique des solides, interfaces et nanostructures
Vermang, Bart; Institute for Material Research (IMO), Hasselt University, Agoralaan gebouw H, B-3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium
H2020 - 777968 - INFINITE-CELL - International cooperation for the development of cost-efficient kesterite/c-Si thin film next generation tandem solar cells
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