Issue 20, 2023

Progress and prospectives of solution-processed kesterite absorbers for photovoltaic applications

Abstract

Solar cells based on emerging kesterite Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 (CZTSSe) materials have reached certified power conversion efficiency (PCE) as high as 13.6%, showing great potential in the next generation of photovoltaic technologies because of their earth-abundant, tunable direct bandgap, high optical absorption coefficient, environment-friendly, and low-cost properties. The predecessor of CZTSSe is Cu(In,Ga) Se2 (CIGS), and the highest PCE of CIGS fabricated by the vacuum method is 23.35%. However, the recorded PCE of CZTSSe devices are fabricated by a low-cost solution method. The characteristics of the solvent play a key role in determining the crystallization kinetics, crystal growth quality, and optoelectronic properties of the CZTSSe thin films in the solution method. It is still challenging to improve the efficiency of CZTSSe solar cells for future commercialization and applications. This review describes the current status of CZTSSe solar cell absorbers fabricated by protic solvents with NH (hydrazine), protic solvents with SH (amine–thiol), aprotic solvents (DMSO and DMF), ethylene glycol methyl ether-based precursor solution method (EGME), and thioglycolic acid (TGA)-ammonia solution (NH3H2O) deposition methods. Furthermore, the performances of vacuum-deposited devices and solution-based processed devices are compared. Finally, the challenges and outlooks of CZTSSe solar cells are discussed for further performance improvement.

Graphical abstract: Progress and prospectives of solution-processed kesterite absorbers for photovoltaic applications

Article information

Article type
Review Article
Submitted
14 1 2023
Accepted
12 4 2023
First published
22 4 2023

Nanoscale, 2023,15, 8900-8924

Progress and prospectives of solution-processed kesterite absorbers for photovoltaic applications

L. Wang, Y. Wang, Z. Zhou, W. Zhou, D. Kou, Y. Meng, Y. Qi, S. Yuan, L. Han and S. Wu, Nanoscale, 2023, 15, 8900 DOI: 10.1039/D3NR00218G

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements