Open AccessReal-Time Electron Nanoscopy of Photovoltaic Absorber Formation from Kesterite Nanoparticles
Author(s) -
Yongtao Qu,
See Wee Chee,
Martial Duchamp,
Stephen Campbell,
Guillaume Zoppi,
Vincent Barrioz,
Yvelin Giret,
Thomas J. Penfold,
Apoorva Chaturvedi,
Utkur Mirsaidov,
Neil S. Beattie
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
acs applied energy materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.833
H-Index - 36
ISSN - 2574-0962
DOI - 10.1021/acsaem.9b01732
Subject(s) - kesterite , annealing (glass) , transmission electron microscopy , materials science , nanocrystal , photovoltaic system , fabrication , solar cell , nanoparticle , nanotechnology , chemical engineering , optoelectronics , open circuit voltage , voltage , czts , metallurgy , electrical engineering , medicine , alternative medicine , engineering , pathology
Cu2ZnSnS4 nanocrystals are annealed in a Se-rich atmosphere inside a transmission electron microscope. During the heating phase, a complete S-Se exchange reaction occurs while the cation sublattice and morphology of the nanocrystals are preserved. At the annealing temperature, growth of large Cu2ZnSnSe4 grains with increased cation ordering is observed in real-time. This yields an annealing protocol which is transferred to an industrially similar solar cell fabrication process resulting in a 33% increase in the device open circuit voltage. The approach can be applied to improve the performance of any photovoltaic technology that requires annealing because of the criticality of the process step.
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