Optically induced metastability in Cu(In,Ga)Se2
Abstract
Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGS) is presently the most efficient thin-film photovoltaic technology with efficiencies exceeding 22%. An important factor impacting the efficiency is metastability, where material changes occur over timescales of up to weeks during light exposure. A previously proposed (V Se -V Cu ) divacancy model presents a widely accepted explanation. We present experimental evidence for the optically induced metastability transition and expand the divacancy model with first-principles calculations. Using photoluminescence excitation spectroscopy, we identify a sub-bandgap optical transition that severely deteriorates the carrier lifetime. This is in accordance with the expanded divacancy model, which predicts that states below the conduction band are responsible for the metastability change. We determine the density–capture cross-section product of the induced lifetime-limiting states and evaluate their impact on device performance. The experimental and theoretical findings presented can allow assessment of metastability characteristics of leading thin-film photovoltaic technologies.
- Authors:
-
- National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Renewable Power Office. Solar Energy Technologies Office
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1407457
- Report Number(s):
- NREL/JA-5900-67677
Journal ID: ISSN 2045-2322
- Grant/Contract Number:
- AC36-08GO28308
- Resource Type:
- Accepted Manuscript
- Journal Name:
- Scientific Reports
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Volume: 7; Journal ID: ISSN 2045-2322
- Publisher:
- Nature Publishing Group
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 14 SOLAR ENERGY; 36 MATERIALS SCIENCE; photovoltaics; thin films; efficiency; metastability; solar cells
Citation Formats
Jensen, S. A., Kanevce, A., Mansfield, L. M., Glynn, S., Lany, S., and Kuciauskas, D. Optically induced metastability in Cu(In,Ga)Se2. United States: N. p., 2017.
Web. doi:10.1038/s41598-017-14344-6.
Jensen, S. A., Kanevce, A., Mansfield, L. M., Glynn, S., Lany, S., & Kuciauskas, D. Optically induced metastability in Cu(In,Ga)Se2. United States. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-14344-6
Jensen, S. A., Kanevce, A., Mansfield, L. M., Glynn, S., Lany, S., and Kuciauskas, D. Mon .
"Optically induced metastability in Cu(In,Ga)Se2". United States. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-14344-6. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1407457.
@article{osti_1407457,
title = {Optically induced metastability in Cu(In,Ga)Se2},
author = {Jensen, S. A. and Kanevce, A. and Mansfield, L. M. and Glynn, S. and Lany, S. and Kuciauskas, D.},
abstractNote = {Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGS) is presently the most efficient thin-film photovoltaic technology with efficiencies exceeding 22%. An important factor impacting the efficiency is metastability, where material changes occur over timescales of up to weeks during light exposure. A previously proposed (V Se -V Cu ) divacancy model presents a widely accepted explanation. We present experimental evidence for the optically induced metastability transition and expand the divacancy model with first-principles calculations. Using photoluminescence excitation spectroscopy, we identify a sub-bandgap optical transition that severely deteriorates the carrier lifetime. This is in accordance with the expanded divacancy model, which predicts that states below the conduction band are responsible for the metastability change. We determine the density–capture cross-section product of the induced lifetime-limiting states and evaluate their impact on device performance. The experimental and theoretical findings presented can allow assessment of metastability characteristics of leading thin-film photovoltaic technologies.},
doi = {10.1038/s41598-017-14344-6},
journal = {Scientific Reports},
number = ,
volume = 7,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Oct 23 00:00:00 EDT 2017},
month = {Mon Oct 23 00:00:00 EDT 2017}
}
Web of Science
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