TY - JOUR
T1 - Is the Cu/Zn disorder the main culprit for the voltage deficit in kesterite solar cells?
AU - Bourdais, Stéphane
AU - Choné, Christophe
AU - Delatouche, Bruno
AU - Jacob, Alain
AU - Larramona, Gerardo
AU - Moisan, Camille
AU - Lafond, Alain
AU - Donatini, Fabrice
AU - Rey, Germain
AU - Siebentritt, Susanne
AU - Walsh, Aron
AU - Dennler, Gilles
PY - 2016/6/22
Y1 - 2016/6/22
N2 - Photovoltaic thin film solar cells based on kesterite Cu2ZnSn(Sx,Se1-x)4 compounds (CZTSSe) have reached >12% sunlight-to-electricity conversion efficiency. This is still far from the >20% record devices known in Cu(In1-y,Gay)Se2 and CdTe parent technologies. A selection of >9% CZTSSe devices reported in the literature is examined to review the progress achieved over the past few years. These devices suffer from a low open-circuit voltage (Voc) never better than 60% of the Voc max, which is expected from the Shockley-Queisser radiative limit (S-Q limit). The possible role of anionic (S/Se) distribution and of cationic (Cu/Zn) disorder on the Voc deficit and on the ultimate photovoltaic performance of kesterite devices, are clarified here. While the S/Se anionic distribution is expected to be homogeneous for any ratio x, some grain-to-grain and other non-uniformity over larger area can be found, as quantified on our CZTSSe films. Nevertheless, these anionic distributions can be considered to have a negligible impact on the Voc deficit. On the Cu/Zn order side, even though significant bandgap changes (>10%) can be observed, a similar conclusion is brought from experimental devices and from calculations, still within the radiative S-Q limit. The implications and future ways for improvement are discussed.
AB - Photovoltaic thin film solar cells based on kesterite Cu2ZnSn(Sx,Se1-x)4 compounds (CZTSSe) have reached >12% sunlight-to-electricity conversion efficiency. This is still far from the >20% record devices known in Cu(In1-y,Gay)Se2 and CdTe parent technologies. A selection of >9% CZTSSe devices reported in the literature is examined to review the progress achieved over the past few years. These devices suffer from a low open-circuit voltage (Voc) never better than 60% of the Voc max, which is expected from the Shockley-Queisser radiative limit (S-Q limit). The possible role of anionic (S/Se) distribution and of cationic (Cu/Zn) disorder on the Voc deficit and on the ultimate photovoltaic performance of kesterite devices, are clarified here. While the S/Se anionic distribution is expected to be homogeneous for any ratio x, some grain-to-grain and other non-uniformity over larger area can be found, as quantified on our CZTSSe films. Nevertheless, these anionic distributions can be considered to have a negligible impact on the Voc deficit. On the Cu/Zn order side, even though significant bandgap changes (>10%) can be observed, a similar conclusion is brought from experimental devices and from calculations, still within the radiative S-Q limit. The implications and future ways for improvement are discussed.
KW - CZTS
KW - Disorder
KW - Photovoltaics
KW - Solar cells
KW - Voltage deficit
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84962657333&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/aenm.201502276
U2 - 10.1002/aenm.201502276
DO - 10.1002/aenm.201502276
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84962657333
SN - 1614-6832
VL - 6
JO - Advanced Energy Materials
JF - Advanced Energy Materials
IS - 12
ER -