Photoexcited Carrier Dynamics of Cu2S Thin Films
Abstract
Copper sulfide is a simple binary material with promising attributes for low-cost thin film photovoltaics. However, stable Cu2S-based device efficiencies approaching 10% free from cadmium have yet to be realized. In this paper, transient absorption spectroscopy is used to investigate the dynamics of the photoexcited state of isolated Cu2S thin films prepared by atomic layer deposition or vapor-based cation exchange of ZnS. While a number of variables including film thickness, carrier concentration, surface oxidation, and grain boundary passivation were examined, grain structure alone was found to correlate with longer lifetimes. A map of excited state dynamics is deduced from the spectral evolution from 300 fs to 300 μs. Finally, revealing the effects of grain morphology on the photophysical properties of Cu2S is a crucial step toward reaching high efficiencies in operationally stable Cu2S thin film photovoltaics.
- Authors:
-
- Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States). Materials Science Division
- Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States). Nanoscience and Technology Division
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES); USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Renewable Power Office. Solar Energy Technologies Office
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1356992
- Grant/Contract Number:
- AC02-06CH11357; AC05-06OR23100
- Resource Type:
- Accepted Manuscript
- Journal Name:
- Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Volume: 5; Journal Issue: 22; Journal ID: ISSN 1948-7185
- Publisher:
- American Chemical Society
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 36 MATERIALS SCIENCE; 37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY; atomic layer deposition; Cu2S thin films; photophysical properties; photovoltaics; thin film solar cell; transient absorption spectroscopy
Citation Formats
Riha, Shannon C., Schaller, Richard D., Gosztola, David J., Wiederrecht, Gary P., and Martinson, Alex B. F. Photoexcited Carrier Dynamics of Cu2S Thin Films. United States: N. p., 2014.
Web. doi:10.1021/jz5021873.
Riha, Shannon C., Schaller, Richard D., Gosztola, David J., Wiederrecht, Gary P., & Martinson, Alex B. F. Photoexcited Carrier Dynamics of Cu2S Thin Films. United States. https://doi.org/10.1021/jz5021873
Riha, Shannon C., Schaller, Richard D., Gosztola, David J., Wiederrecht, Gary P., and Martinson, Alex B. F. Tue .
"Photoexcited Carrier Dynamics of Cu2S Thin Films". United States. https://doi.org/10.1021/jz5021873. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1356992.
@article{osti_1356992,
title = {Photoexcited Carrier Dynamics of Cu2S Thin Films},
author = {Riha, Shannon C. and Schaller, Richard D. and Gosztola, David J. and Wiederrecht, Gary P. and Martinson, Alex B. F.},
abstractNote = {Copper sulfide is a simple binary material with promising attributes for low-cost thin film photovoltaics. However, stable Cu2S-based device efficiencies approaching 10% free from cadmium have yet to be realized. In this paper, transient absorption spectroscopy is used to investigate the dynamics of the photoexcited state of isolated Cu2S thin films prepared by atomic layer deposition or vapor-based cation exchange of ZnS. While a number of variables including film thickness, carrier concentration, surface oxidation, and grain boundary passivation were examined, grain structure alone was found to correlate with longer lifetimes. A map of excited state dynamics is deduced from the spectral evolution from 300 fs to 300 μs. Finally, revealing the effects of grain morphology on the photophysical properties of Cu2S is a crucial step toward reaching high efficiencies in operationally stable Cu2S thin film photovoltaics.},
doi = {10.1021/jz5021873},
journal = {Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters},
number = 22,
volume = 5,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Nov 11 00:00:00 EST 2014},
month = {Tue Nov 11 00:00:00 EST 2014}
}
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