Solution processed CZTS solar cells using amine–thiol systems: understanding the dissolution process and device fabrication

Solution processed CZTS solar cells using amine–thiol systems: understanding the dissolution process and device fabrication Full article

Journal

Journal of Materials Chemistry C
ISSN: 2050-7526 , E-ISSN: 2050-7534

Output data

Year: 2020, Volume: 8, Number: 30, Pages: 10309-10318 Pages count : 10 DOI: 10.1039/d0tc00955e

Authors

Lowe Jamie C. ^1,2 , Wright Lewis D. ² , Eremin Dmitry B. ^3,4 , Burykina Julia V. ³ , Martens Jonathan ⁵ , Plasser Felix ¹ , Ananikov Valentine P. ³ , Bowers Jake W. ² , Malkov Andrei V. ¹

Affiliations

1	Department of Chemistry, School of Science, Loughborough University, Loughborough, Leicestershire, UK
2	CREST, Wolfson School of Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering, Loughborough University, Loughborough, Leicestershire, UK
3	N. D. Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Leninsky Prospect 47, Moscow 119991, Russia
4	The Bridge@USC, University of Southern California, 1002 Childs Way, Los Angeles, California 90089-3502, USA
5	Institute for Molecules and Materials, FELIX Laboratory, Radboud University, Toernooiveld 7c, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

Solar energy is one of the main renewable energy sources currently being researched, with commercial thin film solar cells currently made of CdTe or CuIn(1−x)GaxSe2 (CIGS) absorbers. However, whilst these materials make up the majority of the thin film commercial market, these solar cells have various problems relating to materials cost, and toxicity of constituent elements. Kesterite (Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4) solar cells are becoming increasingly popular due to their tuneable band gap, relative affordability of the constituent elements, and the ability to produce high efficiency devices from solution processes. However, often expensive and toxic materials are used in production. In this paper we report on a newly developed amine–thiol solvent system based on 10% cysteamine in ethanolamine, which has low toxicity, is user-friendly and is able to readily dissolve all kesterite constituent elements, including metals and their oxides. The dissolution process and the structures of the prevalent metal complexes formed were investigated with the aid of spectroscopic methods, such as electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and infrared multiple photon dissociation (IRMPD). In most cases, two molecules of cysteamine were bound to the metals as bidentate ligands. By employing spin coating of the resulting inks, devices of up to 8.1% power conversion efficiency were fabricated.

Lowe J.C. , Wright L.D. , Eremin D.B. , Burykina J.V. , Martens J. , Plasser F. , Ananikov V.P. , Bowers J.W. , Malkov A.V.
Solution processed CZTS solar cells using amine–thiol systems: understanding the dissolution process and device fabrication
Journal of Materials Chemistry C. 2020. V.8. N30. P.10309-10318. DOI: 10.1039/d0tc00955e WOS Scopus OpenAlex

≡ Web of science:	WOS:000556197600014
≡ Scopus:	2-s2.0-85089306658
≡ OpenAlex:	W3038769171