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Influence of a nanostructured ZnO layer on the carrier recombination and dynamics in chalcopyrite solar cells

  • Advanced Nano Materials
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Abstract

The influence of the incorporation of a nanostructured ZnO layer on the carrier recombination and dynamics of chalcopyrite solar cells was studied. Intensity-modulated photocurrent and photovoltage spectroscopy (IMPS and IMVS, respectively) were used for the charge carrier dynamics characterization of two ZnO/In2S3/CuInS2-based solar cells. The charge carrier dynamics on a cell with a ZnO nanorod (ZnO-NR) layer was compared with a similar sample without the nanostructured layer. The IMPS and IMVS responses were measured at different continuous light intensities, and a multitrapping behavior was observed. Higher recombination and transport times were obtained for the cell including the NR layer. Moreover, an enhancement in the charge carrier collection efficiency was observed for the cell with the NR additional layer. The increased surface-to-volume ratio of the NR layer and the passivation of defects in the ZnO/In2S3 interface could be associated with the observed charge dynamics enhancement.

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Acknowledgements

The Uruguayan authors are grateful to PEDECIBA—Física Uruguay, ANII (Agencia Nacional de Investigación e Innovación) Projects FSE_1_2014_1_102184 and FCE_1_2014_1_104739, CSIC (Comisión Sectorial de Investigación Científica) and CAP (Comisión Académica de Posgrado) of the Universidad de la República. The Argentinean authors acknowledge the financial support from CONICET-ANII (MOV_CO_2013_1_100005), ANPCyT (PICT 972/15), and Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata (ING477/16).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto de Física, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad de La República, Julio Herrera y Reissig 565, 11000, Montevideo, Uruguay

    C. Javier Pereyra & Ricardo E. Marotti

  2. División Electroquímica Aplicada, INTEMA, Facultad de Ingeniería, CONICET-Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Av. Colón 10850, B7606BWV, Mar del Plata, Argentina

    C. Javier Pereyra, Yesica Di Iorio, Mariana Berruet & Marcela Vazquez

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  1. C. Javier Pereyra
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Correspondence to C. Javier Pereyra.

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Pereyra, C.J., Di Iorio, Y., Berruet, M. et al. Influence of a nanostructured ZnO layer on the carrier recombination and dynamics in chalcopyrite solar cells. J Mater Sci 55, 9703–9711 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-020-04501-0

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