Correlation between composition and photovoltaic properties of Cu2ZnSnS4 thin film solar cells

Author

Unold, Thomas ; Kretzschmar, Steffen ; Just, Justus ; Zander, Ole ; Schubert, Björn ; Marsen, Björn ; Schock, Hans-Werner

Author_Institution

Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin, Berlin, Germany

fYear

2011

fDate

19-24 June 2011

Abstract

The influence of composition on the quaternary Cu₂ZnSnS₄ (CZTS) absorber material on the secondary phase content, recombination characteristics and solar cell performance is investigated. Best solar efficiencies are found in a very narrow Cu-poor, Zn-rich composition range. Photoluminescence measurements performed at 12 K indicate strong compensation for Cu-poor composition, similar to what is observed in chalcopyrite-type compounds. We find that strongly copper-deficient CZTS contains significant amounts of ZnS, which degrades the solar cell performance.

Keywords

copper compounds; photoluminescence; semiconductor materials; semiconductor thin films; solar absorber-convertors; solar cells; thin film devices; tin compounds; zinc compounds; Cu-poor Zn-rich composition range; Cu₂ZnSnS₄; chalcopyrite-type compounds; copper-deficient CZTS; photoluminescence measurements; photovoltaic properties; quaternary absorber material; recombination characteristics; secondary phase content; solar cell performance; solar efficiencies; temperature 12 K; thin film solar cells; Copper; Materials; Photonic band gap; Photovoltaic cells; Temperature measurement; Tin; Zinc;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (PVSC), 2011 37th IEEE

Conference_Location

Seattle, WA

ISSN

0160-8371

Print_ISBN

978-1-4244-9966-3

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/PVSC.2011.6186531

Filename

6186531