Issue 31, 2021

Environment-friendly Cu-based thin film solar cells: materials, devices and charge carrier dynamics

Abstract

Cu-based thin films are ideal absorbing layer materials for new-generation thin-film solar cells, which have many advantages, such as environment-friendly components, abundant raw materials, low cost, simple manufacturing process, strong anti-interference, radiation resistance, high light absorption coefficient and suitable band gap. Copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) thin-film solar cells, which have the highest photoelectric conversion efficiency (23.35%) among the various Cu-based materials, have been intensively investigated and exploited. To promote the progress of Cu-based thin-film solar cells, the rational design of efficient materials and devices and the in-depth understanding of their photophysical mechanisms are not only urgently required, but also have plenty of room for research. Accordingly, herein, we firstly define the concept of “Cu-based materials”, and further present a comprehensive review on the materials (design and fabrication), devices (assembly and performances), and charge carrier dynamics of Cu-based thin-film semiconductor materials, including perovskites, oxides, chalcogenides (binary, ternary, quaternary and quinary) and perovskite-like iodides. In addition, the current challenges and prospects in this topic are critically concluded. Particularly, this review may help researchers focused on investigating thin-film solar cells.

Graphical abstract: Environment-friendly Cu-based thin film solar cells: materials, devices and charge carrier dynamics

Article information

Article type
Perspective
Submitted
11 Mud 2021
Accepted
12 Maw 2021
First published
12 Maw 2021

Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2021,23, 16469-16487

Environment-friendly Cu-based thin film solar cells: materials, devices and charge carrier dynamics

C. Xing, Y. Lei, M. Liu, S. Wu, W. He and Z. Zheng, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2021, 23, 16469 DOI: 10.1039/D1CP02067F

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