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Real-Time Electron Nanoscopy of Photovoltaic Absorber Formation from Kesterite Nanoparticles

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Yvelin Giret, Professor Thomas PenfoldORCiD

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).

Abstract

Cu₂ZnSnS₄ nanocrystals are annealed in a Se-rich atmosphere inside a transmission electron microscope. During the heating phase, a complete S-Se exchange reaction occurs while the cation sublattice and morphology of the nanocrystals are preserved. At the annealing temperature, growth of large Cu₂ZnSnSe₄ grains with increased cation ordering is observed in real-time. This yields an annealing protocol which is transferred to an industrially-similar solar cell fabrication process resulting in a 33% increase in the device open circuit voltage. The approach can be applied to improve the performance of any photovoltaic technology that requires annealing because of the criticality of the process step.

Publication metadata

Author(s): Qu Y, Chee SW, Duchamp M, Campbell S, Zoppi G, Barrioz V, Giret Y, Penfold TJ, Chaturvedi A, Mirsaidov U, Beattie NS

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: ACS Applied Energy Materials

Year: 2020

Volume: 3

Issue: 1

Pages: 122-128

Print publication date: 27/01/2020

Online publication date: 12/12/2019

Acceptance date: 12/12/2019

Date deposited: 18/12/2019

ISSN (electronic): 2574-0962

Publisher: American Chemical Society

URL: https://doi.org/10.1021/acsaem.9b01732

DOI: 10.1021/acsaem.9b01732

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