Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-mkpzs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-27T01:54:59.007Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Kesterites and Chalcopyrites: A Comparison of Close Cousins

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 June 2011

Ingrid Repins
Affiliation:
National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 1617 Cole Blvd., Golden, CO 80401, U.S.A.
Nirav Vora
Affiliation:
National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 1617 Cole Blvd., Golden, CO 80401, U.S.A.
Carolyn Beall
Affiliation:
National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 1617 Cole Blvd., Golden, CO 80401, U.S.A.
Su-Huai Wei
Affiliation:
National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 1617 Cole Blvd., Golden, CO 80401, U.S.A.
Yanfa Yan
Affiliation:
National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 1617 Cole Blvd., Golden, CO 80401, U.S.A.
Manuel Romero
Affiliation:
National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 1617 Cole Blvd., Golden, CO 80401, U.S.A.
Glenn Teeter
Affiliation:
National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 1617 Cole Blvd., Golden, CO 80401, U.S.A.
Hui Du
Affiliation:
National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 1617 Cole Blvd., Golden, CO 80401, U.S.A.
Bobby To
Affiliation:
National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 1617 Cole Blvd., Golden, CO 80401, U.S.A.
Matt Young
Affiliation:
National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 1617 Cole Blvd., Golden, CO 80401, U.S.A.
Rommel Noufi
Affiliation:
National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 1617 Cole Blvd., Golden, CO 80401, U.S.A.
Get access

Abstract

Chalcopyrite solar cells based on CuInSe2 and associated alloys have demonstrated high efficiencies, with current annual shipments in the hundreds of megawatts (MW) range and increasing. Largely due to concern over possible indium (In) scarcity, a related set of materials, the kesterites, which comprise Cu2ZnSnS4 and associated alloys, has received increasing attention. Similarities and differences between kesterites and chalcopyrites are discussed as drawn from theory, depositions, and materials characterization. In particular, we discuss predictions from density functional theory, results from vacuum co-evaporation, and characterization via x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, electron beam-induced current, quantum efficiency, secondary ion mass spectroscopy, and luminescence.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2011

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

1. Wagner, S., Shay, J. L., and Migliorato, P., Appl. Phys. Lett. 25(8), 434435 (1974).Google Scholar
2. Jackson, P., Hariskos, D., Lotter, E., Paetel, S., Wuerz, R., Menner, R., Wischmann, W., Powalla, M., Prog. Photovoltaics, DOI: 10.1002 (2011).Google Scholar
3. Repins, I., Contreras, M.A., Egaas, B., DeHart, C., Scharf, J., Perkins, C.L., To, B., and Noufi, R., Prog. Photovoltaics 16, 235239 (2008).Google Scholar
4. Fthenakis, V., Renew. Sust. Energ. Rev. 13, 27462750 (2009).Google Scholar
5. Sullivan, T., Kuo, W.H., Karayan, P., LoCascio, M., Holman, M., Udupa, S., Hilman, B., Stuk, A., “Solar State of the Market Q3 2008: The Rocky Road to $100 Billion,” LRSI-SMR-08-02, (Lux Research, 2008).Google Scholar
6. Feltrin, A., Freundlich, A., Renew. Energ. 33, 180185 (2008).Google Scholar
7. Andersson, B.A., Prog. Photovoltaics 8, 6176 (2000).Google Scholar
8. Todorov, T. K., Reuter, K. B., Mitzi, D. B., Adv. Mater. 22, 14 (2010).Google Scholar
9. Kresse, G., Furthmuller, J., Comp. Mater. Sci. 6(1), 1550 (1996).Google Scholar
10. Chen, S., Gong, X.G., Walsh, A., Wei, S.H., Appl. Phys. Lett. 94, 041903 (2009).Google Scholar
11. Chen, S., Yang, J.H., Gong, X.G., Walsh, A., Wei, S.H., Phys. Rev. B 81, 245204 (2010).Google Scholar
12. Wei, S.H., Zunger, A., J. Appl. Phys. (6), 3846-3856 (1995).Google Scholar
13. Romeo, N., Jpn. J. Appl. Phys. 19-3, 513, (1980).Google Scholar
14. Su, D.S., Wei, S.H., Appl. Phys. Lett. 74(17), 24832485 (1999).Google Scholar
15. Zhang, S. B., Wei, S.H., Zunger, A., Yoshida, H. K., Phys. Rev. B 57(16), 96429656 (1998).Google Scholar
16. Chen, S., Gong, X.G., Walsh, A., Wei, S.H., Appl. Phys. Lett. 96, 021902 (2010).Google Scholar
17. Wei, S.H., Zhang, B., J. Phys. Chem. Solids 66, 1994 (2005).Google Scholar
18. Chen, S., Walsh, A., Yang, J.-H., Gong, X.-G., Sun, L., Yang, P.-X., Chu, J.-H., and Wei, S.-H., Phys. Rev. B 83, 125201 (2011).Google Scholar
19. Gabor, A.M., “The conversion of (In, Ga)2Se3 thin films to Cu(In, Ga)Se2 for application to photovoltaic solar cells,” PhD thesis , (University of Colorado, 1995), pp. 42-49.Google Scholar
20. Weber, A., Mainz, R., Schock, H.W., J. Appl. Phys. 107, 013516 (2010).Google Scholar
21. Kessler, J., Scholdstrom, J., Stolt, L., IEEE Phot. Spec. Conf. 28, 509512(2000).Google Scholar
22. Vora, N. et al. , in progress.Google Scholar
23. Shafarman, W.N., Zhu, J., Mater. Res. Soc. Symp. P. 668, H2.3.2-H2.3.6 (2001).Google Scholar
24. Gabor, A.M., Tuttle, J.R., Albin, D.S., Contreras, M.A., Noufi, R., Appl. Phys. Lett. 65 (2), 198-200 (1994).Google Scholar
25. Mickelsen, R.A., Chen, W.S., Hsiao, Y.R., Lowe, V.E., IEEE Transactions on Electron Devices ED-31 (5), 542-546 (1984).Google Scholar
26. Tuttle, J.R., Contreras, M.A., Bode, M.H., Niles, D., Albin, D.S., Matson, R., Gabor, A.M., Tennant, A., Duda, A., Noufi, R., J. Appl. Phys. 77 (1), 153-161 (1995).Google Scholar
27. Schubert, B.A., Marsen, B., Cinque, S., Unold, T., Klenk, R., Schorr, S., Schock, H.W., Prog. Photovoltaics 19 (1), 93-96 (2011).Google Scholar
28. Tanaka, T., Yoshida, A., Saiki, D., Saito, K., Guo, Q., Nishio, M., Yamaguchi, T., Thin Solid Films 518, S29S33 (2010).Google Scholar
29. Han, S.H., Hasoon, F.S., Hermann, A.M., Levi, D.H., Appl. Phys. Lett. 91, 021904 (2007).Google Scholar
30. Granata, J.E., Sites, J.R., World Conf. Photo. Sol. Energ. Conv. 2, 604607 (1998).Google Scholar
31. Rudmann, D., “Effects of sodium on growth and properties of Cu(In, Ga)Se2 thin films and solar cells,” PhD thesis , (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, 2004).Google Scholar
32. Zellner, M.B., Birkmire, R.W., Eser, E., Shafarman, W.N., Chen, J.G., Prog. Photovoltaics 11, 543548 (2003).Google Scholar
33. Romero, M.J., Contreras, M.A., Repins, I., Jiang, C.S., Al-Jassim, M.M, Mater. Res. Soc. Symp. P. 1165, 419424 (2010).Google Scholar