Fabrication of Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 solar cells by printing and high-pressure sintering process

2013 ◽  
Vol 1538 ◽  
pp. 179-183 ◽  
Author(s):  
Feng Gao ◽  
Tsuyoshi Maeda ◽  
Takahiro Wada
Keyword(s):  
Solid Solution ◽  
High Pressure ◽  
Solar Cells ◽  
Solar Cell ◽  
Soda Lime ◽  
Soda Lime Glass ◽  
Sintering Process ◽  
Device Structure ◽  
Gas Atmosphere ◽  
High Pressure Sintering

ABSTRACTWe fabricated Cu2ZnSn(SxSe1-x)4 (CZTSSe) solar cells by a printing and high-pressure sintering (PHS) process. First, the CZTSSe solid solution powders were synthesized by heating the elemental mixtures at 550oC for 5 h in an N2 gas atmosphere. We fabricated CZTSSe films by a printing and high-pressure sintering (PHS) process. The obtained dense CZTSSe film was post-annealed at 550oC for 10 min under an N2 +5% H2S gas atmosphere. We fabricated CZTSSe solar cells with the device structure of Ag/ITO/i-ZnO/CdS/CZTSSe/Mo/soda-lime glass. The CZTSSe solar cell showed an efficiency of 2.1%, with Voc of 272 mV, Jsc of 18.0 mA/cm2 and FF of 0.44.

scholarly journals Optimization of Mo/Cr bilayer back contacts for thin-film solar cells

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. 2700-2707 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nima Khoshsirat ◽  
Fawad Ali ◽  
Vincent Tiing Tiong ◽  
Mojtaba Amjadipour ◽  
Hongxia Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Thin Film ◽  
Solar Cells ◽  
Solar Cell ◽  
Single Layer ◽  
Soda Lime ◽  
Thin Film Solar Cells ◽  
Soda Lime Glass ◽  
Tin Sulfide ◽  
Back Contact ◽  
Bilayer Films

Molybdenum (Mo) is the most commonly used material as back contact in thin-film solar cells. Adhesion of Mo film to soda–lime glass (SLG) substrate is crucial to the performance of solar cells. In this study, an optimized bilayer structure made of a thin layer of Mo on an ultra-thin chromium (Cr) adhesion layer is used as the back contact for a copper zinc tin sulfide (CZTS) thin-film solar cell on a SLG substrate. DC magnetron sputtering is used for deposition of Mo and Cr films. The conductivity of Mo/Cr bilayer films, their microstructure and surface morphology are studied at different deposition powers and working pressures. Good adhesion to the SLG substrate has been achieved by means of an ultra-thin Cr layer under the Mo layer. By optimizing the deposition conditions we achieved low surface roughness, high optical reflectance and low sheet resistivity while we could decrease the back contact thickness to 600 nm. That is two thirds to half of the thickness that is currently being used for bilayer and single layer back contact for thin-film solar cells. We demonstrate the excellent properties of Mo/Cr bilayer as back contact of a CZTS solar cell.

The Advantages of Ga-Graded Obtained by Growth Profile Modification and Na Incorporation on Cu(In,Ga)Se2 Solar Cells

2014 ◽  
Vol 936 ◽  
pp. 633-638
Author(s):  
Rachsak Sakdanuphab ◽  
Sojiphong Chatraphorn ◽  
Kajornyod Yoodee
Keyword(s):  
Thin Films ◽  
Solar Cells ◽  
Solar Cell ◽  
Band Gap ◽  
Structural Property ◽  
Growth Process ◽  
Optical Transmission ◽  
Soda Lime ◽  
Soda Lime Glass ◽  
Growth Profile

Cu (In,Ga)Se2 (CIGS) compound is a p-type semiconductor that has been used as light absorber layer in high efficiency thin film solar cell. The CIGS compound can be adjusted the band gap energy by varying the ratio of [Ga]/([In]+[Ga]) ratio (x). From theoretical and simulation, it was found that band gap grading in CIGS thin films showed the advantages to increase the efficiency of solar cells. Generally, the band gap grading can be done by the growth of non homogeneous x-ratio in depth of CIGS thin films. In this work, we develop two approaches to create band gap grading in CIGS thin films; (1) modifying the growth profile and (2) using Na incorporation in the growth process. The effects of Ga-graded would be revealed and compared with homogeneous CIGS thin films. CIGS thin films were grown on soda-lime glass and Al2O3 coated soda-lime glass substrates by molecular beam deposition method. The growth process was based on 2-stage and 3-stage growth profiles. The as grown films were characterized for their structural property, chemical composition and optical transmission as well as solar cell performance. The Auger electron spectroscopy in depth profiles revealed the variation of x-ratio increasing from the surface toward the back contact in CIGS films with our modified growth profile and Na incorporation. This result indicated Ga-graded in CIGS thin films. The structural property of Ga-graded CIGS films showed the (112) preferred orientation of the chalcopyrite structure with a broad asymmetric spectrum related to the inhomogeneous structure. The optical transmission measurements of the Ga-graded CIGS film showed the broad transition near the absorption edge indicating the effect of the band gap grading as a result of the variation in depth of the Ga-content. From I-V measurements, the solar cell efficiencies significantly increase due to the advantages of Ga-graded constitute.

Microstructural Study of Diamond Deformed Under High Pressure and Temperature

1985 ◽  
Vol 43 ◽  
pp. 230-231
Author(s):  
E. F. Koch
Keyword(s):  
High Pressure ◽  
High Temperature ◽  
Lattice Structure ◽  
Diamond Particle ◽  
Polycrystalline Diamond ◽  
Sintering Process ◽  
Ion Milling ◽  
Sintered Compact ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
High Pressure Sintering

Because of the extremely rigid lattice structure of diamond, generating new dislocations or moving existing dislocations in diamond by applying mechanical stress at ambient temperature is very difficult. Analysis of portions of diamonds deformed under bending stress at elevated temperature has shown that diamond deforms plastically under suitable conditions and that its primary slip systems are on the ﹛111﹜ planes. Plastic deformation in diamond is more commonly observed during the high temperature - high pressure sintering process used to make diamond compacts. The pressure and temperature conditions in the sintering presses are sufficiently high that many diamond grains in the sintered compact show deformed microtructures.In this report commercially available polycrystalline diamond discs for rock cutting applications were analyzed to study the deformation substructures in the diamond grains using transmission electron microscopy. An individual diamond particle can be plastically deformed in a high pressure apparatus at high temperature, but it is nearly impossible to prepare such a particle for TEM observation, since any medium in which the diamond is mounted wears away faster than the diamond during ion milling and the diamond is lost.

Application of ZnGa2O4:Mn Down-Conversion Layer to Increase the Energy-Conversion Efficiency of Perovskite Solar Cells

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (8) ◽  
pp. 4362-4366
Author(s):  
Ji Yong Hwang ◽  
Chung Wung Bark ◽  
Hyung Wook Choi
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Energy Conversion ◽  
Tin Oxide ◽  
Perovskite Solar Cells ◽  
Soda Lime ◽  
Light Transmittance ◽  
Soda Lime Glass ◽  
Manufacturing Cost ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Down Conversion

The perovskite solar cell is capable of energy conversion in a wide range of wavelengths, from 300 nm to 800 nm, which includes the entire visible region and portions of the ultraviolet and infrared regions. To increase light transmittance of perovskite solar cells and reduce manufacturing cost of perovskite solar cells, soda-lime glass and transparent conducting oxides, such as indium tin oxide and fluorine-doped tin oxide are mainly used as substrates and light-transmitting electrodes, respectively. However, it is evident from the transmittance of soda-lime glass and transparent conductive oxides measured via UV-Vis spectrometry that they absorb all light near and below 310 nm. In this study, a transparent Mn-doped ZnGa2O4 film was fabricated on the incident surface of perovskite solar cells to obtain additional light energy by down-converting 300 nm UV light to 510 nm visible light. We confirmed the improvement of power efficiency by applying a ZnGa2O4:Mn down-conversion layer to perovskite solar cells.

Characteristics of Perovskite Solar Cells with ZnGa2O4:Mn Phosphor Mixed Polyvinylidene Fluoride Down-Conversion Layer

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. 855-860
Author(s):  
Ji Yong Hwang ◽  
II Tae Kim ◽  
Hyung Wook Choi
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cell ◽  
Tin Oxide ◽  
Indium Tin Oxide ◽  
Polyvinylidene Fluoride ◽  
Perovskite Solar Cells ◽  
Soda Lime ◽  
Perovskite Solar Cell ◽  
Transport Layer ◽  
Soda Lime Glass ◽  
Down Conversion

To reduce the manufacturing cost of perovskite solar cells, soda-lime glass and transparent conducting oxides such as indium tin oxide and fluorine-doped tin oxide are the most widely used substrates and lighttransmitting electrodes. However, the transmittance spectra of soda-lime glass, indium tin oxide, and fluorinedoped tin oxide show that all light near and below 330 nm is absorbed; thus, with the use of these substrates, light energy near and below 330 nm cannot reach the perovskite light-absorbing layer. It is expected that the overall solar cell can be improved if the wavelength can be adjusted to reach the perovskite solar cell absorbing layer through down-conversion of energy in the optical wavelength band. In this study, a polyvinylidene fluoride transparent film mixed with a ZnGa2O4:Mn phosphor was applied to the incident side of the perovskite solar cell with the intent to increase the light conversion efficiency without changing the internal bandgap energy and structure. By adding a phosphor layer to the external surface of PSC exposed to incident light, the efficiency of the cell was increased by the down-conversion of ultraviolet light (290 nm) to the visible region (509 nm) while maintaining the transmittance. To manufacture the perovskite solar cell, a TiO2-based mesoporous electron transport layer was spin-coated onto the substrate. The perovskite layer used in this experiment was CH3NH3PbI3 and was fabricated on a TiO2 layer. Spiro-OMeTAD solution was spin-coated as a hole-transport layer.

Optical and Electrical Analyses of Thallium Sulphide Thin Films

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 249-253
Keyword(s):  
Thin Films ◽  
Solar Cells ◽  
Soda Lime ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Window Layer ◽  
Soda Lime Glass ◽  
Energy Band Gap ◽  
Thallium Chloride ◽  
Light Region ◽  
Silicon And Germanium

Abstract: In this paper, suitability of thallium sulphide films were investigated as an alternative to conventional silicon and germanium that were used as window layers in solar cells. Thin films were deposited on soda lime glass (SLG) substrates in a chemical bath containing Thallium Chloride (TlCl2) and Thiourea (NH2)2CS which was conditioned at 80 ºC for about 5 hours to deposit the films. Effects of annealing on the film samples at 300 ºC and 350 ºC were studied respectively by use of UV-VIS Avantes electrophotometer and Four-Point-Probe (FPP) machine in the light region with wavelength range from 200 nm to 1000 nm. The results obtained suggest that the thin films obtained are good materials for optoelectronics. The absorption spectra exhibited a relatively high energy band-gap. Materials of this nature are good for window layers which serve as passage to the absorber layer where needed charge carriers are produced. Keywords: Thin film, Thallium Sulphide, Window layer, Optoelectronics, Solar cells.

Preparation of CIGSS Thin-Film Solar Cells by Rapid Thermal Processing

2006 ◽  
Vol 129 (3) ◽  
pp. 323-326
Author(s):  
Sachin S. Kulkarni ◽  
Jyoti S. Shirolikar ◽  
Neelkanth G. Dhere
Keyword(s):  
Thin Film ◽  
Solar Cells ◽  
Thermal Processing ◽  
Rapid Thermal Processing ◽  
Electrical Characterization ◽  
Soda Lime ◽  
Thin Film Solar Cells ◽  
Soda Lime Glass ◽  
X Ray

Rapid thermal processing (RTP) provides a way to rapidly heat substrates to an elevated temperature to perform relatively short duration processes, typically less than 2–3min long. RTP can be utilized to minimize the process cycle time without compromising process uniformity, thus eliminating a bottleneck in CuIn1−xGaxSe2−ySy (CIGSS) module fabrication. Some approaches have been able to realize solar cells with conversion efficiencies close or equal to those for conventionally processed solar cells with similar device structures. A RTP reactor for preparation of CIGSS thin films on 10cm×10cm substrates has been designed, assembled, and tested at the Florida Solar Energy Center’s PV Materials Lab. This paper describes the synthesis and characterization of CIGSS thin-film solar cells by the RTP technique. Materials characterization of these films was done by scanning electron microscopy, x-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction, Auger electron spectroscopy, electron probe microanalysis, and electrical characterization was done by current–voltage measurements on soda lime glass substrates by the RTP technique. Encouraging results were obtained during the first few experimental sets, demonstrating that reasonable solar cell efficiencies (up to 9%) can be achieved with relatively shorter cycle times, lower thermal budgets, and without using toxic gases.

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