Large-Area (Ag,Cu)(In,Ga)Se2 Thin-Film Solar Cells with Increased Bandgap and Reduced Voltage Losses Realized with Bulk Defect Reduction and Front-Grading of the Absorber Bandgap

Bothwell, Alexandra M.; Li, Siming; Farshchi, Rouin; Miller, Michael F.; Wands, Jake; Perkins, Craig L.; Rockett, Angus; Arehart, Aaron R.; Kuciauskas, Darius

doi:10.1002/solr.202200230

Large-Area (Ag,Cu)(In,Ga)Se₂ Thin-Film Solar Cells with Increased Bandgap and Reduced Voltage Losses Realized with Bulk Defect Reduction and Front-Grading of the Absorber Bandgap

Journal Article · Wed Apr 27 00:00:00 EDT 2022 · Solar RRL

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/solr.202200230· OSTI ID:1869796

^[1]; Li, Siming ^[1]; Farshchi, Rouin ^[2]; Miller, Michael F. ^[3]; Wands, Jake ^[4]; Perkins, Craig L. ^[1]; Rockett, Angus ^[5]; Arehart, Aaron R. ^[3]; ^[1]

National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
MiaSolé Hi-Tech Corp., Santa Clara, CA (United States)
The Ohio State Univ., Columbus, OH (United States)
Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO (United States)
Colorado School of Mines Golden CO 80401 USA

The 1.24 eV bandgap, 18.8% power conversion efficiency Ag-alloyed chalcopyrite (Ag,Cu)(In,Ga)Se₂ (ACIGS) solar cells are characterized to relate voltage and efficiency improvements to electro-optical (EO) characteristics. Shockley-Read-Hall recombination center defect density, identified and characterized through deep level transient spectroscopy and time-resolved photoluminescence (TRPL), is reduced through potassium and copper treatment optimization. Concomitantly, longer minority carrier lifetimes are achieved, which increases open-circuit voltage (V_OC). Near-conduction band defects associated in earlier studies with light-induced current instability are also mitigated. Analysis of charge-carrier dynamics after single- and two-photon excitation is used to separate recombination at the front interface and in the absorber bulk. From TRPL decay simulations, the authors estimate ranges of key solar cell material characteristics: bulk carrier lifetime T_bulk = 110-210 ns, charge-carrier mobility u = 110-160 cm² V^-1 s^-1, and front interface recombination velocity S_front = 700-1050 cm s^-1. This lowest-reported S_front for ACIGS absorbers originates from the notched conduction band grading, which also makes the impact of the back interface recombination negligible. It is suggested in the results that solar cell performance enhancements can be made most readily with two distinct strategies: improving device architecture and reducing semiconductor defect densities. Using these approaches, power conversion efficiency in large-area solar cells is improved by 1.1% absolute.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Solar Energy Technologies Office

Grant/Contract Number:: AC36-08GO28308; EE0008755

OSTI ID:: 1869796

Report Number(s):: NREL/JA-5900-82727; MainId:83500; UUID:660a31f3-4837-461f-9304-a75e5d81ce5d; MainAdminID:64571

Journal Information:: Solar RRL, Journal Name: Solar RRL Journal Issue: 8 Vol. 6; ISSN 2367-198X

Publisher:: WileyCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

References (48)

Direct Nanoscale Characterization of Deep Levels in AgCuInGaSe ₂ Using Electron Energy‐Loss Spectroscopy in the Scanning Transmission Electron Microscope Deitz, Julia I.; Paul, Pran K.; Farshchi, Rouin Advanced Energy Materials, Vol. 9, Issue 35 https://doi.org/10.1002/aenm.201901612	journal	August 2019
How to Report Record Open‐Circuit Voltages in Lead‐Halide Perovskite Solar Cells Krückemeier, Lisa; Rau, Uwe; Stolterfoht, Martin Advanced Energy Materials, Vol. 10, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1002/aenm.201902573	journal	November 2019
Wide bandgap Cu(In,Ga)Se ₂ solar cells with improved energy conversion efficiency : Wide bandgap Cu(In,Ga)Se Contreras, Miguel A.; Mansfield, Lorelle M.; Egaas, Brian Progress in Photovoltaics: Research and Applications, Vol. 20, Issue 7 https://doi.org/10.1002/pip.2244	journal	June 2012
The role of drift, diffusion, and recombination in time-resolved photoluminescence of CdTe solar cells determined through numerical simulation: The role of drift, diffusion, and recombination in time-resolved photoluminescence Kanevce, A.; Levi, D. H.; Kuciauskas, D. Progress in Photovoltaics: Research and Applications, Vol. 22, Issue 11 https://doi.org/10.1002/pip.2369	journal	February 2013
Progress in thin film CIGS photovoltaics - Research and development, manufacturing, and applications: Progress in thin film CIGS photovoltaics Feurer, Thomas; Reinhard, Patrick; Avancini, Enrico Progress in Photovoltaics: Research and Applications, Vol. 25, Issue 7 https://doi.org/10.1002/pip.2811	journal	October 2016
Record 1.0 V open-circuit voltage in wide band gap chalcopyrite solar cells Larsson, Fredrik; Nilsson, Nina Shariati; Keller, Jan Progress in Photovoltaics: Research and Applications, Vol. 25, Issue 9 https://doi.org/10.1002/pip.2914	journal	July 2017
Solar cell efficiency tables (version 57) Green, Martin; Dunlop, Ewan; Hohl‐Ebinger, Jochen Progress in Photovoltaics: Research and Applications, Vol. 29, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1002/pip.3371	journal	November 2020
Compositional investigation of potassium doped Cu(In,Ga)Se ₂ solar cells with efficiencies up to 20.8% : Compositional investigation of potassium doped Cu(In,Ga)Se Jackson, Philip; Hariskos, Dimitrios; Wuerz, Roland physica status solidi (RRL) - Rapid Research Letters, Vol. 8, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1002/pssr.201409040	journal	February 2014
Structural and optical properties of thin films of Cu(In,Ga)Se2 semiconductor compounds Mudryi, A. V.; Gremenok, V. F.; Karotki, A. V. Journal of Applied Spectroscopy, Vol. 77, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10812-010-9341-5	journal	July 2010
Perspectives of chalcopyrite-based CIGSe thin-film solar cell: a review Regmi, G.; Ashok, A.; Chawla, Parul Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics, Vol. 31, Issue 10 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-020-03338-2	journal	April 2020
On the photoionization of deep impurity centers in semiconductors Lucovsky, G. Solid State Communications, Vol. 3, Issue 9 https://doi.org/10.1016/0038-1098(65)90039-6	journal	September 1965
Quantitative analysis of graded Cu(In1−x,Gax)Se2 thin films by AES, ICP-OES, and EPMA Perkins, Craig L.; Egaas, Brian; Repins, Ingrid Applied Surface Science, Vol. 257, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsusc.2010.07.085	journal	November 2010
Tabulated values of the Shockley–Queisser limit for single junction solar cells Rühle, Sven Solar Energy, Vol. 130 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2016.02.015	journal	June 2016
High-efficiency Cu(In,Ga)Se2 cells and modules Powalla, Michael; Jackson, Philip; Witte, Wolfram Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, Vol. 119 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solmat.2013.05.002	journal	December 2013
A recombination analysis of Cu(In,Ga)Se₂ solar cells with low and high Ga compositions Li, Jian V.; Grover, Sachit; Contreras, Miguel A. Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, Vol. 124, p. 143-149 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solmat.2014.01.047	journal	May 2014
Impact of Urbach energy on open-circuit voltage deficit of thin-film solar cells Chantana, Jakapan; Kawano, Yu; Nishimura, Takahito Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, Vol. 210 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solmat.2020.110502	journal	June 2020
Metastabilities in the electrical characteristics of CIGS devices: Experimental results vs theoretical predictions Igalson, M.; Cwil, M.; Edoff, M. Thin Solid Films, Vol. 515, Issue 15 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tsf.2006.12.038	journal	May 2007
Structural characterization of the (AgCu)(InGa)Se2 thin film alloy system for solar cells Boyle, J. H.; McCandless, B. E.; Hanket, G. M. Thin Solid Films, Vol. 519, Issue 21 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tsf.2011.01.138	journal	August 2011
The electronic structure of Cu(In1−xGax)Se2 alloyed with silver Erslev, Peter T.; Lee, JinWoo; Hanket, Gregory M. Thin Solid Films, Vol. 519, Issue 21 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tsf.2011.01.368	journal	August 2011
Bandgap of thin film solar cell absorbers: A comparison of various determination methods Carron, Romain; Andres, Christian; Avancini, Enrico Thin Solid Films, Vol. 669 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tsf.2018.11.017	journal	January 2019
Microscopic origins of performance losses in highly efficient Cu(In,Ga)Se2 thin-film solar cells Krause, Maximilian; Nikolaeva, Aleksandra; Maiberg, Matthias Nature Communications, Vol. 11, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-17507-8	journal	August 2020
Ror2 signaling regulates Golgi structure and transport through IFT20 for tumor invasiveness Nishita, Michiru; Park, Seung-Yeol; Nishio, Tadashi Scientific Reports, Vol. 7, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-016-0028-x	journal	January 2017
Occurrence of the potent mutagens 2- nitrobenzanthrone and 3-nitrobenzanthrone in fine airborne particles Santos, Aldenor G.; da Rocha, Gisele O.; de Andrade, Jailson B. Scientific Reports, Vol. 9, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-37186-2	journal	January 2019
All solution processable graded CIGS solar cells fabricated using electrophoretic deposition Golobostanfard, Mohammad Reza; Abdizadeh, Hossein RSC Advances, Vol. 6, Issue 14 https://doi.org/10.1039/C5RA26315H	journal	January 2016
Effects of Ga addition to CuInSe2 on its electronic, structural, and defect properties Wei, Su-Huai; Zhang, S. B.; Zunger, Alex Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 72, Issue 24 https://doi.org/10.1063/1.121548	journal	June 1998
Deep‐level transient spectroscopy: A new method to characterize traps in semiconductors Lang, D. V. Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 45, Issue 7 https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1663719	journal	July 1974
Light- and bias-induced metastabilities in Cu(In,Ga)Se[sub 2] based solar cells caused by the (V[sub Se]-V[sub Cu]) vacancy complex Lany, Stephan; Zunger, Alex Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 100, Issue 11 https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2388256	journal	January 2006
Long lifetimes in high-efficiency Cu(In,Ga)Se2 solar cells Metzger, Wyatt K.; Repins, Ingrid L.; Contreras, Miguel A. Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 93, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2957983	journal	July 2008
Electrical characterization of n-type Al _0.30 Ga _0.70 N Schottky diodes Arehart, A. R.; Allerman, A. A.; Ringel, S. A. Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 109, Issue 11 https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3592284	journal	June 2011
Device and material characterization of Cu(InGa)Se2 solar cells with increasing band gap Shafarman, William N.; Klenk, Reiner; McCandless, Brian E. Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 79, Issue 9 https://doi.org/10.1063/1.361431	journal	May 1996
Dielectric function of Cu(In, Ga)Se ₂ -based polycrystalline materials Minoura, Shota; Kodera, Keita; Maekawa, Takuji Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 113, Issue 6 https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4790174	journal	February 2013
Charge carrier dynamics and recombination in graded band gap CuIn _1−x Ga _x Se ₂ polycrystalline thin-film photovoltaic solar cell absorbers Kuciauskas, Darius; Li, Jian V.; Contreras, Miguel A. Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 114, Issue 15 https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4825211	journal	October 2013
Charge-carrier dynamics in polycrystalline thin-film CuIn1−xGaxSe2 photovoltaic devices after pulsed laser excitation: Interface and space-charge region analysis Kuciauskas, Darius; Li, Jian V.; Kanevce, Ana Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 117, Issue 18 https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4921011	journal	May 2015
Reducing interface recombination for Cu(In,Ga)Se ₂ by atomic layer deposited buffer layers Hultqvist, Adam; Li, Jian V.; Kuciauskas, Darius Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 107, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4927096	journal	July 2015
Beneficial effect of post-deposition treatment in high-efficiency Cu(In,Ga)Se2 solar cells through reduced potential fluctuations Jensen, S. A.; Glynn, S.; Kanevce, A. Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 120, Issue 6 https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4960344	journal	August 2016
Defect-mediated metastability and carrier lifetimes in polycrystalline (Ag,Cu)(In,Ga)Se ₂ absorber materials Ferguson, Andrew J.; Farshchi, Rouin; Paul, Pran K. Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 127, Issue 21 https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5134502	journal	June 2020
The electrical characterisation of semiconductors Blood, P.; Orton, J. W. Reports on Progress in Physics, Vol. 41, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1088/0034-4885/41/2/001	journal	February 1978
Efficiency Potential of Photovoltaic Materials and Devices Unveiled by Detailed-Balance Analysis Rau, Uwe; Blank, Beatrix; Müller, Thomas C. M. Physical Review Applied, Vol. 7, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevApplied.7.044016	journal	April 2017
Excitation-power dependence of the near-band-edge photoluminescence of semiconductors Schmidt, T.; Lischka, K.; Zulehner, W. Physical Review B, Vol. 45, Issue 16 https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.45.8989	journal	April 1992
Comparative study of the luminescence and intrinsic point defects in the kesterite Cu 2 ZnSnS 4 and chalcopyrite Cu(In,Ga)Se 2 thin films used in photovoltaic applications Romero, Manuel J.; Du, Hui; Teeter, Glenn Physical Review B, Vol. 84, Issue 16, Article No. 165324 https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.84.165324	journal	October 2011
Intrinsic point defects in CuInSe 2 and CuGaSe 2 as seen via screened-exchange hybrid density functional theory Pohl, Johan; Albe, Karsten Physical Review B, Vol. 87, Issue 24 https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.87.245203	journal	June 2013
Minority Carrier Lifetime Analysis in the Bulk of Thin-Film Absorbers Using Subbandgap (Two-Photon) Excitation Kuciauskas, Darius; Kanevce, Ana; Burst, James M. IEEE Journal of Photovoltaics, Vol. 3, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.1109/JPHOTOV.2013.2270354	journal	October 2013
Origin of Reduced Efficiency in Cu(In,Ga)Se$_2$ Solar Cells With High Ga Concentration: Alloy Solubility Versus Intrinsic Defects Huang, Bing; Chen, Shiyou; Deng, Hui-Xiong IEEE Journal of Photovoltaics, Vol. 4, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1109/JPHOTOV.2013.2285617	journal	January 2014
Direct nm-Scale Spatial Mapping of Traps in CIGS Paul, P. K.; Cardwell, D. W.; Jackson, C. M. IEEE Journal of Photovoltaics, Vol. 5, Issue 5 https://doi.org/10.1109/JPHOTOV.2015.2459971	journal	September 2015
In Situ and Ex Situ Investigations of KF Postdeposition Treatment Effects on CIGS Solar Cells Karki, Shankar; Paul, Pran K.; Rajan, Grace IEEE Journal of Photovoltaics, Vol. 7, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1109/JPHOTOV.2016.2637659	journal	March 2017
High V oc in (Cu,Ag)(In,Ga)Se 2 Solar Cells Edoff, Marika; Jarmar, Tobias; Nilsson, Nina Shariati IEEE Journal of Photovoltaics, Vol. 7, Issue 6 https://doi.org/10.1109/JPHOTOV.2017.2756058	journal	November 2017
Analysis of Back-Contact Interface Recombination in Thin-Film Solar Cells Paul, Sanjoy; Grover, Sachit; Repins, Ingrid L. IEEE Journal of Photovoltaics, Vol. 8, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1109/JPHOTOV.2018.2819664	journal	May 2018
Strain analysis of plasma CVD graphene for roll-to-roll production by scanning transmission electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy Kato, Ryuichi; Koga, Yoshinori; Matsuishi, Kiyoto Japanese Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 56, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.7567/JJAP.56.030307	journal	February 2017

Similar Records

Nonradiative Recombination Dominates Voltage Losses in Cu(In,Ga)Se ₂ Solar Cells Fabricated using Different Methods

Journal Article · Wed Apr 19 20:00:00 EDT 2023 · Solar RRL · OSTI ID:1970804

Charge Carrier Lifetime Determination in Graded Absorber Solar Cells Using Time‐Resolved Photoluminescence Simulations and Measurements

Journal Article · Mon Feb 27 19:00:00 EST 2023 · Solar RRL · OSTI ID:1959083

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
ACIGS
absorber grading
defects
solar cells
voltage losses

Large-Area (Ag,Cu)(In,Ga)Se2 Thin-Film Solar Cells with Increased Bandgap and Reduced Voltage Losses Realized with Bulk Defect Reduction and Front-Grading of the Absorber Bandgap

Citation Formats

References (48)

Similar Records

Related Subjects

Large-Area (Ag,Cu)(In,Ga)Se₂ Thin-Film Solar Cells with Increased Bandgap and Reduced Voltage Losses Realized with Bulk Defect Reduction and Front-Grading of the Absorber Bandgap