INFLUENCE OF ANNEALING TEMPERATURE ON SOME OPTICAL AND STRUCTURAL PROPERTIES OF Cu2ZnSnS4 DEPOSITED BY CZT CO-ELECTRODEPOSITION COUPLED WITH CHEMICAL BATH TECHNIQUE

2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (03) ◽  
pp. 1850075
Author(s):  
OBILA JORIM OKOTH ◽  
DINFA LUKA DOMTAU ◽  
MUKABI MARINA ◽  
ONYATTA JOHN ◽  
OGACHO ALEX AWUOR
Keyword(s):  
Thin Film ◽  
Near Infrared ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Solar Spectrum ◽  
Electrical Characterization ◽  
Czts Film ◽  
Infrared Range ◽  
Earth Abundant ◽  
Czts Thin Films ◽  
Material Scarcity

Copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) is currently most efficient thin film solar technology in use but it is faced with problems of material scarcity and toxicity. An alternative earth abundant and non-toxic materials consisting of Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) have been investigated as a replacement for CIGS. In this work, CZTS thin films deposited by low cost co-electrodeposition, at a potential of [Formula: see text]1.2[Formula: see text]V, coupled with chemical bath techniques at room temperature and then annealed under sulphur rich atmosphere were investigated. CZTS thin film quality determination was carried out using Raman spectroscopy which confirmed formation of quality CZTS film, main Raman peaks at 288[Formula: see text]cm[Formula: see text] and 338[Formula: see text]cm[Formula: see text] were observed. Electrical characterization was carried out using four-point probe instrument and the resistivity was in the order of [Formula: see text]-cm. The optical characterization was done using UV-VIS-NIR spectrophotometer. The bandgaps of the annealed CZTS film ranged from 1.45 to 1.94[Formula: see text]eV with absorption coefficient of order [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]cm[Formula: see text] in the visible and near infrared range of the solar spectrum were observed.

scholarly journals A review on Spray pyrolysis deposited CZTS thin films for solar cell applications

2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (09) ◽  
pp. 1196-1206
Author(s):  
C.S.A. Raj ◽  
◽  
S. Sebastian ◽  
Susai Rajendran ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Thin Film ◽  
Thin Films ◽  
Solar Cell ◽  
Spray Pyrolysis ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Thin Film Deposition ◽  
Research Area ◽  
Film Deposition ◽  
Deposition Technique ◽  
Czts Thin Films

Cu2ZnSnS4 generally abridged as CZTS is a potential material for economical thin film solar cells, due to its appropriate band gap energy of around 1.5 eV and great absorption coefficient of above 104 cm-1. All the constituents of this material are plentiful in the earth’s crust, and they are non-hazardous making it an elegant alternative. Subsequent to the early achievement of the CZTS based solar cell with its light to electrical conversion efficiency of 0.6%, significant advancement in this research area has been attained, particularly in the last seven years. Currently, the conversion effectiveness of the CZTS thin film solar cell has enhanced to 24%. More than 500 papers on CZTS have been available and the greater part of these converses the preparation of CZTS thin films by diverse methods. Until now, many physical and chemical methods have been engaged for preparing CZTS thin films. Amongst them, spray pyrolysis is a flexible deposition technique. Spray pyrolysis is a simple deposition technique that finds use in widespread areas of thin film deposition research. This method is appropriate for depositing good quality films with low cost, clean deposition, and simplicity and flexibility in the manufacturing design. This script, reviews the synthesis of CZTS semiconductor thin films deposited by spray pyrolysis. This analysis initiates with a portrayal of the spray pyrolysis system, and then establish the CZTS and preparation of the CZTS precursor for coating. A review of spray pyrolysis of CZTS thin films are discussed in detail. To conclude, we present perspectives for advancements in spray pyrolysis for a CZTS based solar cell absorber layer.

scholarly journals Commercial polycarbonate track-etched membranes as substrates for low-cost optical sensors

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 677-683 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paula Martínez-Pérez ◽  
Jaime García-Rupérez
Keyword(s):  
Optical Sensors ◽  
Mesoporous Material ◽  
Near Infrared ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Ethanol Solution ◽  
Infrared Range ◽  
Refractive Index Sensing ◽  
Fabry Perot ◽  
Pattern Characteristic ◽  
Near Infrared Range

Porous materials have become one of the best options for the development of optical sensors, since they maximize the interaction between the optical field and the target substances, which boosts the sensitivity. In this work, we propose the use of a readily available mesoporous material for the development of such sensors: commercial polycarbonate track-etched membranes. In order to demonstrate their utility for this purpose, we firstly characterized their optical response in the near-infrared range. This response is an interference fringe pattern, characteristic of a Fabry–Pérot interferometer, which is an optical device typically used for sensing purposes. Afterwards, several refractive index sensing experiments were performed by placing different concentrations of ethanol solution on the polycarbonate track-etched membranes. As a result, a sensitivity value of around 56 nm/RIU was obtained and the reusability of the substrate was demonstrated. These results pave the way for the development of optical porous sensors with such easily available mesoporous material.

Down-Shifting Phosphor Layer Enhancement in Optically Active and Inactive Thin-Film Solar Module Regions

MRS Advances ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (43) ◽  
pp. 2953-2965 ◽  
Author(s):  
Loucas Tsakalakos ◽  
David J. Smith ◽  
Joleyn E. Brewer ◽  
Holly A. Comanzo ◽  
Ching-Yeu Wei ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Thin Film ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Solar Spectrum ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Optically Active ◽  
Window Layer ◽  
Phosphor Layer ◽  
Solar Module ◽  
Photovoltaic Efficiency ◽  
Phosphor Film

ABSTRACTThe enhancement of photovoltaic efficiency by incorporation of down-shifting phosphor materials in optically active and inactive regions of solar modules is presented. Thin film photovoltaic modules suffer from various optical losses, including front glass reflectance, thermalization loss of absorbed high energy photons, window layer absorption, and the loss of photons to scribe regions. There have been various efforts to improve the performance of solar modules by application of down-shifting (DS), down-converting, and up-converting materials systems. Here we show results towards the development of a low-cost phosphor film system tuned to the solar spectrum and specifically designed for CdTe thin film modules.

In situ growth of SnS absorbing layer by reactive sputtering for thin film solar cells

RSC Advances ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (5) ◽  
pp. 4108-4115 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lianbo Zhao ◽  
Yunxiang Di ◽  
Chang Yan ◽  
Fangyang Liu ◽  
Zhu Cheng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Thin Film ◽  
Single Phase ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Thin Film Solar Cells ◽  
In Situ Growth ◽  
Promising Candidate ◽  
Earth Abundant ◽  
Absorbing Layer ◽  
Material Preparation

The semiconductor SnS is a promising candidate for low cost earth-abundant photovoltaic absorbing layers and presents some interesting challenges in single phase material preparation.

scholarly journals Variation of aerosol optical thickness with atmospheric water vapour : A case study over a continental station Mysore, India

MAUSAM ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 62 (3) ◽  
pp. 441-448
Author(s):  
K.E. GANESH ◽  
T.K. UMESH ◽  
B. NARASIMHAMURTHY
Keyword(s):  
Water Vapour ◽  
Optical Thickness ◽  
Near Infrared ◽  
Solar Spectrum ◽  
Aerosol Optical Thickness ◽  
Infrared Range ◽  
Atmospheric Water ◽  
Atmospheric Measurements ◽  
Precipitable Water Vapour ◽  
Atmospheric Water Vapour

Atmospheric measurements in a continental, low latitude station Mysore (12.3° N) has been carried out, for the period December 2003 to June 2006. Measurements were made using a sunphotometer with five bands in the visible and near-infrared range of the solar spectrum. To bring out the wavelength dependence of Aerosol Optical Thickness (AOT) on atmospheric water vapour, typically two wavelength channels are being used, one at 500 nm and the other at 1020 nm. A linear dependence between AOT and water vapour on meteorologically calm days is the important observation made. Growth rate of AOT is found to be larger at shorter wavelength (500 nm) than that of the longer wavelength (1020 nm). A mass-plot representation is followed on monthly basis, which is nothing but the graphical plot of spectral AOT versus water vapour of the scans for all the clear sky days of a particular month. Further investigations reveal that some months exhibit a single trend of growth of AOT with water vapour whereas double trend is the scenario for other months. These results provide insight into the changes in the atmospheric aerosol characteristics with precipitable water vapour, which is the subject matter of this paper.

Disordered Photonic Crystal Slabs for Thin-Film Photovoltaics

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chelsea Carlson
Keyword(s):  
Thin Film ◽  
Photonic Crystal ◽  
Near Infrared ◽  
Crystalline Silicon ◽  
Solar Spectrum ◽  
Silicon Layer ◽  
Physical Parameters ◽  
Photonic Crystal Slabs ◽  
Optical Applications ◽  
Conversion Efficiencies

Photonic crystal nanostructures are the foundation for many optical applications such as nanochip waveguides, optical fibres, and high-Q nanocavities. Recently, researchers have begun to explore the use of photonic crystal slabs to increase the overall absorption of sunlight in thin-film solar photovoltaic (PV) cells. Currently, amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) thin-film technologies can only achieve efficiencies of up to 16% in laboratories and less than 10% in manufactured commercial products. The difficulty in improving these efficiencies arises from the inherent band gap properties of the crystalline silicon layer: the natural photonic bandgap in the near infrared (IR) region of light prohibits almost a third of the entire available solar spectrum from being absorbed. Some of this loss can be salvaged by increasing the thickness of the silicon layer, but this drives the price of the cell up and has very limited potential. However, using photonic crystal nanostructures in the active layer of the cell can decrease the reflection of light at the surface and increase the photon path within the film, enhancing the collection and conversion efficiencies over a broad spectrum. The absorption can be further increased by introducing pseudo-disorder within the structures. The purpose of this study was to explore the physical parameters of this disorder and quantitatively optimize absorption.

Development of SnS Thin Films for Solar Cells

2014 ◽  
Vol 556-562 ◽  
pp. 278-281
Author(s):  
Zhi Gang Wang ◽  
Wen Cheng Gao ◽  
Jing Li ◽  
Ke Gao Liu
Keyword(s):  
Thin Film ◽  
Thin Films ◽  
Solar Cells ◽  
Solar Spectrum ◽  
Preparation Methods ◽  
Earth Abundant ◽  
High Absorption Coefficient ◽  
Sns Thin Films ◽  
Development Tendency ◽  
Photovoltaic Material

SnS thin film, a potential earth-abundant photovoltaic material, has particularly generated interest because of its nontoxic nature, the band gap of it matches well with solar spectrum and its high absorption coefficient. It provides a brief description of the development of SnS thin film for solar cells, and surveys several preparation methods of SnS thin film, then introduces the crystal structure of SnS. The effects of different doping elements and concentrations for SnS thin film on performance were outlined, and the development and the structure of solar cells based on SnS thin films were discussed. Finally, the development tendency and prospects were predicted.

scholarly journals Large-Scale Synthesis of Semiconducting Cu(In,Ga)Se2 Nanoparticles for Screen Printing Application

Nanomaterials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 1148
Author(s):  
Bruna F. Gonçalves ◽  
Alec P. LaGrow ◽  
Sergey Pyrlin ◽  
Bryan Owens-Baird ◽  
Gabriela Botelho ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Thin Film ◽  
Screen Printing ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Near Infrared ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Thin Film Deposition ◽  
Hexagonal Structure ◽  
Film Deposition ◽  
Large Scale Synthesis ◽  
Deposition Processes

During the last few decades, the interest over chalcopyrite and related photovoltaics has been growing due the outstanding structural and electrical properties of the thin-film Cu(In,Ga)Se2 photoabsorber. More recently, thin film deposition through solution processing has gained increasing attention from the industry, due to the potential low-cost and high-throughput production. To this end, the elimination of the selenization procedure in the synthesis of Cu(In,Ga)Se2 nanoparticles with following dispersion into ink formulations for printing/coating deposition processes are of high relevance. However, most of the reported syntheses procedures give access to tetragonal chalcopyrite Cu(In,Ga)Se2 nanoparticles, whereas methods to obtain other structures are scarce. Herein, we report a large-scale synthesis of high-quality Cu(In,Ga)Se2 nanoparticles with wurtzite hexagonal structure, with sizes of 10–70 nm, wide absorption in visible to near-infrared regions, and [Cu]/[In + Ga] ≈ 0.8 and [Ga]/[Ga + In] ≈ 0.3 metal ratios. The inclusion of the synthesized NPs into a water-based ink formulation for screen printing deposition results in thin films with homogenous thickness of ≈4.5 µm, paving the way towards environmentally friendly roll-to-roll production of photovoltaic systems.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document