Wide band gap kesterite absorbers for thin film solar cells: Potential and challenges for their deployment in tandem devices
Vermang B, Brammertz G, Meuris M, Schnabel T, Ahlswede E, Choubrac L, Harel S, Cardinaud C, Arzel L, Barreau N, Van Deelen J, Bolt PJ, Bras P, Ren Y, Jaremalm E, Khelifi S, Yang S, Lauwaert J, Batuk M, Hadermann J, Kozina X, Handick E, Hartmann C, Gerlach D, Matsuda A, Ueda S, Chikyow T, Félix R, Zhang Y, Wilks RG, Bär M (2019)
Publication Type: Journal article
Publication year: 2019
Journal
Book Volume: 3
Pages Range: 2246-2259
Journal Issue: 9
DOI: 10.1039/c9se00266a
Abstract
This work reports on developments in the field of wide band gap Cu2ZnXY4 (with X = Sn, Si or Ge, and Y = S, Se) kesterite thin film solar cells. An overview on recent developments and the current understanding of wide band gap kesterite absorber layers, alternative buffer layers, and suitable transparent back contacts is presented. Cu2ZnGe(S,Se)4 absorbers with absorber band gaps up to 1.7 eV have been successfully developed and integrated into solar cells. Combining a CdS buffer layer prepared by an optimized chemical bath deposition process with a 1.36 eV band gap absorber resulted in a record Cu2ZnGeSe4 cell efficiency of 7.6%, while the highest open-circuit voltage of 730 mV could be obtained for a 1.54 eV band gap absorber and a Zn(O,S) buffer layer. Employing InZnOx or TiO2 protective top layers on SnO2:In transparent back contacts yields 85-90% of the solar cell performance of reference cells (with Mo back contact). These advances show the potential as well as the challenges of wide band gap kesterites for future applications in high-efficiency and low-cost tandem photovoltaic devices.
Authors with CRIS profile
Involved external institutions
Hasselt University / Universiteit Hasselt
Belgium (BE)
Universiteit Gent (UGent) / Ghent University
Belgium (BE)
Université de Nantes
France (FR)
University of Antwerp / Universiteit Antwerpen
Belgium (BE)
Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie (HZB)
Germany (DE)
Midsummer AB
Sweden (SE)
National Institute of Materials Science (NIMS)
Japan (JP)
Zentrum für Sonnenenergie- und Wasserstoff-Forschung (ZSW)
Germany (DE)
Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research / Nederlandse Organisatie voor toegepast-natuurwetenschappelijk onderzoek (TNO)
Netherlands (NL)
Belgium (BE)
Universiteit Gent (UGent) / Ghent University
Belgium (BE)
Université de Nantes
France (FR)
University of Antwerp / Universiteit Antwerpen
Belgium (BE)
Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie (HZB)
Germany (DE)
Midsummer AB
Sweden (SE)
National Institute of Materials Science (NIMS)
Japan (JP)
Zentrum für Sonnenenergie- und Wasserstoff-Forschung (ZSW)
Germany (DE)
Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research / Nederlandse Organisatie voor toegepast-natuurwetenschappelijk onderzoek (TNO)
Netherlands (NL)
How to cite
APA:
Vermang, B., Brammertz, G., Meuris, M., Schnabel, T., Ahlswede, E., Choubrac, L.,... Bär, M. (2019). Wide band gap kesterite absorbers for thin film solar cells: Potential and challenges for their deployment in tandem devices. Sustainable Energy & Fuels, 3(9), 2246-2259. https://doi.org/10.1039/c9se00266a
MLA:
Vermang, Bart, et al. "Wide band gap kesterite absorbers for thin film solar cells: Potential and challenges for their deployment in tandem devices." Sustainable Energy & Fuels 3.9 (2019): 2246-2259.
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