Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

X-Ray and Electron Spectroscopy of the CdS/(Ag,Cu)(In,Ga)Se2 Interface With RbF Treatment

Journal Article · · Advanced Materials Interfaces
 [1];  [2];  [1];  [1];  [2];  [3];  [4];  [4];  [4];  [4];  [1];  [1]
  1. Karlsruhe Inst. of Technology (KIT) (Germany); Univ. of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV (United States)
  2. Karlsruhe Inst. of Technology (KIT) (Germany)
  3. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States). Advanced Light Source (ALS)
  4. Zentrum für Sonnenenergie‐ und Wasserstoff‐Forschung Baden‐Württemberg (ZSW) (Germany)
The chemical and electronic structure of the CdS/(Ag,Cu)(In,Ga)Se2 (CdS/ACIGSe) interface for thin-film solar cells, involving an absorber with a bulk [Ag]/([Ag]+[Cu]) (AAC) ratio of 0.06, a state-of-the-art RbF post-deposition treatment (PDT), and a chemical-bath deposited CdS buffer layer, is studied. To gain a detailed and depth-resolved picture of the CdS/ACIGSe interface, synchrotron- and laboratory-based hard X-ray, soft X-ray, and UV photoelectron spectroscopy, inverse photoemission spectroscopy, and X-ray emission spectroscopy are combined. Compared to the bulk of the absorber, a Cu- and Ga-poor ACIGSe surface is found, with a slightly increased AAC ratio. Strong evidence of a Rb–In–Se species (possibly with some Ag) at the absorber surface is compiled, with a corresponding band gap of 2.79 ± 0.12 eV. This finding is in clear contrast to comparable Ag-free Cu(In,Ga)Se2 absorbers with RbF-PDT. The Rb–In–Se surface species is not removed by the (wet-chemical) CdS deposition process, while some Se diffuses into the CdS layer and segregates at its surface. The CdS buffer layer shows a band gap of 2.48 ± 0.12 eV, and a cliff (≈ -0.4 eV) is determined in the conduction band alignment at the interface between the Rb–In–Se species and the CdS buffer.
Research Organization:
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Scientific User Facilities (SUF)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC02-05CH11231
OSTI ID:
2555743
Journal Information:
Advanced Materials Interfaces, Journal Name: Advanced Materials Interfaces Journal Issue: 11 Vol. 12; ISSN 2196-7350
Publisher:
Wiley-VCHCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (65)

Nanoscale Surface Analysis Reveals Origins of Enhanced Interface Passivation in RbF Post Deposition Treated CIGSe Solar Cells journal May 2023
Surface and Interface Properties in Thin‐Film Solar Cells: Using Soft X‐rays and Electrons to Unravel the Electronic and Chemical Structure journal February 2019
A New Look at the Electronic Structure of Transparent Conductive Oxides—A Case Study of the Interface between Zinc Magnesium Oxide and Cadmium Telluride journal September 2016
Heavy Alkali Treatment of Cu(In,Ga)Se 2 Solar Cells: Surface versus Bulk Effects journal January 2020
Efficiency Boost of (Ag0.5,Cu0.5)(In1‐x,Gax)Se2 Thin Film Solar Cells by Using a Sequential Process: Effects of Ag‐Front Grading and Surface Phase Engineering journal June 2023
How small changes make a difference: Influence of low silver contents on the effect of RbF‐PDT in CIGS solar cells journal October 2022
VOC‐losses across the band gap: Insights from a high‐throughput inline process for CIGS solar cells journal May 2023
Properties of Cu(In,Ga)Se 2 solar cells with new record efficiencies up to 21.7% : Properties of Cu(In,Ga)Se journal December 2014
Effects of heavy alkali elements in Cu(In,Ga)Se 2 solar cells with efficiencies up to 22.6% journal July 2016
Properties of Co‐Evaporated RbInSe 2 Thin Films journal December 2018
Calculations of electron inelastic mean free paths. V. Data for 14 organic compounds over the 50-2000 eV range journal March 1994
Elucidating the Mechanism of an RbF Post Deposition Treatment in CIGS Thin Film Solar Cells journal July 2018
Chemical and Electronic Structure at the Interface between a Sputter‐Deposited Zn(O,S) Buffer and a Cu(In,Ga)(S,Se)2Solar Cell Absorber journal April 2023
PHOTOELECTRON ANGULAR DISTRIBUTION PARAMETERS FOR ELEMENTS Z=1 TO Z=54 IN THE PHOTOELECTRON ENERGY RANGE 100–5000 eV journal January 2001
New Data and Updates for II-VI Compounds book January 2009
Formation of the ZnSe/(Te/)GaAs() heterojunction journal May 2003
Characterisation and modelling of chalcopyrite solar cells journal May 2001
Current transport in CuInS 2 :Ga/Cds/Zno – solar cells journal February 2000
RbF-related post-deposition treatments on Cu(In,Ga)(S,Se)2 absorbers: The role of the chalcogen atmosphere journal March 2023
Near-ultraviolet inverse photoemission spectroscopy using ultra-low energy electrons journal June 2012
Influence of RbF post deposition treatment on heterojunction and grain boundaries in high efficient (21.1%) Cu(In,Ga)Se2 solar cells journal June 2019
Ag incorporation in low-temperature grown Cu(In,Ga)Se2 solar cells using Ag precursor layers journal March 2016
Effects of annealing under various atmospheres on electrical properties of Cu(In,Ga)Se2 films and CdS/Cu(In,Ga)Se2 heterostructures journal August 2008
The electronic structure of Cu(In1−xGax)Se2 alloyed with silver journal August 2011
In vacuo XPS investigation of Cu(In,Ga)Se2 surface after RbF post-deposition treatment journal November 2018
Impact of substrate temperature during NaF and KF post-deposition treatments on chemical and optoelectronic properties of alkali-free Cu(In,Ga)Se2 thin film solar cell absorbers journal December 2021
Sulfate Speciation Analysis Using Soft X-ray Emission Spectroscopy journal June 2021
Electronic Structure of Chalcopyrite Surfaces for Photoelectrochemical Hydrogen Production journal April 2023
Conduction Band Cliff at the CdS/CuIn0.1Ga0.9Se2 Thin-Film Solar Cell Interface journal December 2023
Surface/Interface Effects by Alkali Postdeposition Treatments of (Ag,Cu)(In,Ga)Se2 Thin Film Solar Cells journal December 2021
NaF/RbF-Treated Cu(In,Ga)Se2 Thin-Film Solar Cell Absorbers: Distinct Surface Modifications Caused by Two Different Types of Rubidium Chemistry journal July 2020
Surface Passivation and Detrimental Heat-Induced Diffusion Effects in RbF-Treated Cu(In,Ga)Se2 Solar Cell Absorbers journal July 2022
Rb Diffusion and Oxide Removal at the RbF-Treated Ga2O3/Cu(In,Ga)Se2 Interface in Thin-Film Solar Cells journal November 2023
Potassium Postdeposition Treatment-Induced Band Gap Widening at Cu(In,Ga)Se 2 Surfaces – Reason for Performance Leap? journal December 2015
Band-Gap Widening at the Cu(In,Ga)(S,Se) 2 Surface: A Novel Determination Approach Using Reflection Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy journal August 2016
Formation of a K—In—Se Surface Species by NaF/KF Postdeposition Treatment of Cu(In,Ga)Se 2 Thin-Film Solar Cell Absorbers journal January 2017
Rubidium Fluoride Post-Deposition Treatment: Impact on the Chemical Structure of the Cu(In,Ga)Se 2 Surface and CdS/Cu(In,Ga)Se 2 Interface in Thin-Film Solar Cells journal October 2018
Impact of a RbF Postdeposition Treatment on the Electronic Structure of the CdS/Cu(In,Ga)Se 2 Heterojunction in High-Efficiency Thin-Film Solar Cells journal September 2017
Highly efficient Cu(In,Ga)Se2 solar cells grown on flexible polymer films journal September 2011
Potassium-induced surface modification of Cu(In,Ga)Se2 thin films for high-efficiency solar cells journal November 2013
High-concentration silver alloying and steep back-contact gallium grading enabling copper indium gallium selenide solar cell with 23.6% efficiency journal February 2024
Unveiling the effects of post-deposition treatment with different alkaline elements on the electronic properties of CIGS thin film solar cells journal January 2014
Na‐induced effects on the electronic structure and composition of Cu(In,Ga)Se 2 thin‐film surfaces journal June 1996
Observation of intermixing at the buried CdS/Cu(In, Ga)Se2 thin film solar cell heterojunction journal March 1999
Flat conduction-band alignment at the CdS/CuInSe2 thin-film solar-cell heterojunction journal December 2001
CdS and Cd(OH)2 formation during Cd treatments of Cu(In,Ga)(S,Se)2 thin-film solar cell absorbers journal January 2003
Band alignment at the i-ZnO/CdS interface in Cu(In,Ga)(S,Se)2 thin-film solar cells journal April 2004
Band alignment at the CdS∕Cu(In,Ga)S2 interface in thin-film solar cells journal February 2005
High-resolution, high-transmission soft x-ray spectrometer for the study of biological samples journal June 2009
Solid and liquid spectroscopic analysis (SALSA)–a soft x-ray spectroscopy endstation with a novel flow-through liquid cell journal December 2009
Sulfur gradient-driven Se diffusion at the CdS/CuIn(S,Se)2 solar cell interface journal May 2010
Influence of Na and H2O on the surface properties of Cu(In,Ga)Se2 thin films journal September 1997
Impact of environmental conditions on the chemical surface properties of Cu(In,Ga)(S,Se) 2 thin-film solar cell absorbers journal May 2014
Structural and optical properties of (Ag,Cu)(In,Ga)Se 2 polycrystalline thin film alloys journal June 2014
Experimental indication for band gap widening of chalcopyrite solar cell absorbers after potassium fluoride treatment journal August 2014
KF post-deposition treatment of industrial Cu(In, Ga)(S, Se) 2 thin-film surfaces: Modifying the chemical and electronic structure journal August 2017
Direct insights into RbInSe 2 formation at Cu(In,Ga)Se 2 thin film surface with RbF postdeposition treatment journal September 2018
Challenges in the deposition of (Ag,Cu)(In,Ga)Se2 absorber layers for thin-film solar cells journal January 2021
X-SPEC: a 70 eV to 15 keV undulator beamline for X-ray and electron spectroscopies journal February 2021
The Comparison of (Ag,Cu)(In,Ga)Se$_{\bf 2}$ and Cu(In,Ga)Se$_{\bf 2}$ Thin Films Deposited by Three-Stage Coevaporation journal January 2014
Effect of Sodium on the Properties of Ag(In, Ga)Se2 Thin Films and Solar Cells journal September 2017
Cd-Free Cu(In,Ga)(Se,S) 2 Thin-Film Solar Cell With Record Efficiency of 23.35% journal November 2019
Using the inelastic background in hard x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy for a depth-resolved analysis of the CdS/Cu(In,Ga)Se2 interface
  • Hauschild, Dirk; Steininger, Ralph; Hariskos, Dimitrios
  • Journal of Vacuum Science & Technology A: Vacuum, Surfaces, and Films, Vol. 39, Issue 6 https://doi.org/10.1116/6.0001336
journal October 2021
Novel Wide-Band-Gap Ag(In 1-x Ga x )Se 2 Thin Film Solar Cells journal January 2005
Growth of (Ag,Cu)(In,Ga)Se2 Absorbers under Band Gap Variation and Characterization with a Focus on Optical Spectroscopy journal January 2023