Next-generation solar cells become more powerful with silver-doping technology

A group of researchers has considerably improved the efficiency of kesterite (CZTSSe) thin-film photo voltaic cells. They developed a brand new technique for doping silver (Ag) in photo voltaic cells to suppress defects that hinder cell efficiency and promote crystal development, thereby dramatically growing effectivity and paving the way in which for commercialization. The work is published within the journal Power & Environmental Science.

CZTSSe photo voltaic cells are composed of copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), tin (Sn), sulfur (S), and selenium (Se), and are gaining consideration as a resource-abundant, low-cost, and eco-friendly photo voltaic cell expertise. Particularly, they’ve the benefit of being appropriate for large-scale manufacturing and extremely aggressive in value as a result of they use supplies which are ample in assets as a substitute of the scarce metals utilized in standard photo voltaic cells.

Nevertheless, standard CZTSSe photo voltaic cells have low effectivity and excessive present losses as a result of electron-hole recombination, thus making them tough to commercialize.

To handle these points, the analysis group employed a technique of doping the photo voltaic cell precursor with Ag. Ag inhibits the lack of Sn and helps the supplies combine higher at low temperatures. This permits the crystals to develop bigger and quicker, decreasing defects and bettering the efficiency of the photo voltaic cell.

On this research, they systematically analyzed how the location of Ag at totally different places within the precursor adjustments the defects and electron-hole recombination properties within the photo voltaic cell. The outcomes point out that Ag can considerably enhance the efficiency of the photo voltaic cell by stopping Sn loss and maximizing the defect suppression impact.

Importantly, additionally they discovered that doping Ag within the fallacious place really interferes with the formation of Zn and Cu alloy, inflicting Zn to stay within the bulk and kind defect clusters. This will result in elevated electron-hole recombination losses and degraded efficiency. From this, the analysis group supplied an essential perception: photo voltaic cell efficiency varies considerably relying on the place Ag doping happens.

Moreover, the analysis group discovered that the liquid materials fashioned by Ag doping promotes crystal growthconsiderably bettering the density and crystallinity of the absorber layer. This resulted in an improved vitality band construction and fewer defects, finally permitting for smoother cost transport within the cell. These findings are anticipated to contribute considerably to the manufacturing of high-performance solar cells at low price.

The researchers included Kee-jeong Yang, Dae-hwan Kim, and Jin-gyu Kang from the Division of Power & Environmental Expertise, DGIST, who collaborated with Prof. Kim Jun-ho’s group from the Division of Physics, Incheon Nationwide College and Prof. Koo Sang-mo’s group from the Division of Digital Supplies Engineering.

“In this study, we analyzed the effect of Ag doping, which had not been clearly identified before, process by process, and found that silver plays a role in suppressing tin loss and improving defects,” mentioned Yang.

“The results provide important insights into the design of silver-doped precursor structures to improve solar cell efficiency and are expected to contribute to the development of various solar cell technologies.”

Supplied by
DGIST (Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Expertise)