Hydrazine-Free Solution-Deposited CuIn(S,Se)2 Solar Cells by Spray Deposition of Metal Chalcogenides

Journal Article · Wed May 18 00:00:00 EDT 2016 · ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.6b01541· OSTI ID:1254920

Arnou, Panagiota; Cooper, Carl S.; Malkov, Andrei V.; Walls, John M.; Bowers, Jake W.

Solution processing of semiconductors, such as CuInSe2 and its alloys (CIGS), can significantly reduce the manufacturing costs of thin film solar cells. Despite the recent success of solution deposition approaches for CIGS, toxic reagents such as hydrazine are usually involved, which introduce health and safety concerns. Here, we present a simple and safer methodology for the preparation of high-quality CuIn(S, Se)2 absorbers from metal sulfide solutions in a diamine/dithiol mixture. The solutions are sprayed in air, using a chromatography atomizer, followed by a postdeposition selenization step. Two different selenization methods are explored resulting in power conversion efficiencies of up to 8%.

• Research Organization: National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
• DOE Contract Number: AC36-08GO28308
• OSTI ID: 1254920
• Report Number(s): NREL/JA-5K00-66525
• Journal Information: ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, Vol. 8, Issue 19; Related Information: ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces; ISSN 1944-8244
• Publisher: American Chemical Society
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
CIGS
thin film
solar cells
chalcopyrite
atmospheric process