Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Comparative study on the effects of substitutional Ag and substitutional Ge on kesterite thin-film solar cells

  • Published:
Applied Physics A Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Incorporating substitutional elements from groups I, II and IV is an important approach to improve the quality of kesterite thin films. Among the elements, Ag and Ge are most effective in promoting the performance of Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 solar cells. Although several theoretical and experimental studies have been conducted on the Ag/Ge-alloyed kesterite, there are significant differences in the reported morphological characteristics, photovoltaic performance and even the optimal Ag/Ge substitution ratio due to different preparation processes utilized, which leads to difficulties in comparing the Ag-incorporated and Ge-incorporated kesterite solar cells. Currently, there is little literature on the comparative study concerned. Herein, we fabricated Ag-alloyed and Ge-alloyed kesterite solar cells based on the same solution method and process conditions, and laterally compared the effects of Ag substitution and Ge substitution on the phase compositions, morphologies, optical bandgaps, minority carrier lifetime and device performance of kesterite Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 thin films.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

Data will be made available on request.

References

  1. A. Wang, M. He, M.A. Green, K. Sun, X. Hao, Adv. Energy Mater. 13, 2203046 (2022)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. W. Wang, M.T. Winkler, O. Gunawan, T. Gokmen, T.K. Todorov, Y. Zhu, D.B. Mitzi, Adv. Energy Mater. 4, 1301465 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. T. Todorov, H.W. Hillhouse, S. Aazou, Z. Sekkat, O. Vigil-Galán, S.D. Deshmukh, R. Agrawal, S. Bourdais, M. Valdés, P. Arnou, D.B. Mitzi, P.J. Dale, J. Phys.: Energy 2, 012003 (2020)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  4. Y.C. Gong, Q. Zhu, B.Y. Li, S.S. Wang, B.W. Duan, L.C. Lou, C.X. Xiang, E. Jedlicka, R. Giridharagopal, Y.G. Zhou, Q. Dai, W.B. Yan, S.Y. Chen, Q.B. Meng, H. Xin, Nat. Energy 7, 966 (2022)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  5. J. Zhou, X. Xu, H. Wu, J. Wang, L. Lou, K. Yin, Y. Gong, J. Shi, Y. Luo, D. Li, H. Xin, Q. Meng, Nat. Energy 8, 526 (2023)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  6. Y.C. Gong, R.C. Qiu, C.Y. Niu, J.J. Fu, E. Jedlicka, R. Giridharagopal, Q. Zhu, Y.G. Zhou, W.B. Yan, S.T. Yu, J.J. Jiang, S.X. Wu, D.S. Ginger, W. Huang, H. Xin, Adv. Funct. Mater. 31, 2101927 (2021)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. J.L. Wang, J.Z. Zhou, X. Xu, F.Q. Meng, C.X. Xiang, L.C. Lou, K. Yin, B.W. Duan, H.J. Wu, J.J. Shi, Y.H. Luo, D.M. Li, H. Xin, Q.B. Meng, Adv. Mater. 34, 2202858 (2022)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. S. Kim, J.A. Márquez, T. Unold, A. Walsh, Energy Environ. Sci. 13, 1481 (2020)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Y.C. Gong, H. Xin, L.M. Ding, J. Semicond. 42, 100201 (2021)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  10. M.R. He, C. Yan, J.J. Li, M.P. Suryawanshi, J. Kim, M.A. Green, X.J. Hao, Adv. Sci. 8, 2004313 (2021)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Y.E. Romanyuk, S.G. Haass, S. Giraldo, M. Placidi, D. Tiwari, D.J. Fermin, X.J. Hao, H. Xin, T. Schnabel, M. Kauk-Kuusik, P. Pistor, S. Lie, L.H. Wong, J. Phys.: Energy 1, 044004 (2019)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  12. S. Giraldo, Z. Jehl, M. Placidi, V. Izquierdo-Roca, A. Perez-Rodriguez, E. Saucedo, Adv. Mater. 31, 1806692 (2019)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. J.J. Li, D.X. Wang, X.L. Li, Y. Zeng, Y. Zhang, Adv. Sci. 5, 1700744 (2018)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. J. Park, J. Huang, J. Yun, F. Liu, Z. Ouyang, H. Sun, C. Yan, K. Sun, K. Kim, J. Seidel, S. Chen, M.A. Green, X. Hao, Adv. Energy Mater. 8, 1701940 (2018)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. A. Mule, B. Vermang, M. Sylvester, G. Brammertz, S. Ranjbar, T. Schnabel, N. Gampa, M. Meuris, J. Poortmans, Thin Solid Films 633, 156156 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. B. Duan, L. Guo, Q. Yu, J. Shi, H. Wu, Y. Luo, D. Li, S. Wu, Z. Zheng, Q. Meng, J. Energy Chem. 40, 196196 (2020)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. S.G. Haass, C. Andres, R. Figi, C. Schreiner, M. Bürki, Y.E. Romanyuk, A.N. Tiwari, Adv. Energy Mater. 8, 1701760 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. G. Zhong, K. Tse, Y. Zhang, X. Li, L. Huang, C. Yang, J. Zhu, Z. Zeng, Z. Zhang, X. Xiao, Thin Solid Films 603, 224224 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. C. Yan, K. Sun, J. Huang, S. Johnston, F. Liu, B.P. Veettil, K. Sun, A. Pu, F. Zhou, J.A. Stride, M.A. Green, X. Hao, ACS Energy Lett. 2, 930930 (2017)

    Google Scholar 

  20. M.E. Erkan, V. Chawla, M.A. Scarpulla, J. Appl. Phys. 119, 194504 (2016)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  21. R. Scaffidi, G. Birant, G. Brammertz, J. de Wild, D. Flandre, B. Vermang, J. Mater. Chem. A 11, 13174 (2023)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. A.D. Collord, H.W. Hillhouse, Chem. Mater. 28, 20672067 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. S. Kim, K.M. Kim, H. Tampo, H. Shibata, S. Niki, Appl. Phys. Express 9, 102301 (2016)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  24. S. Giraldo, M. Neuschitzer, T. Thersleff, S. López-Marino, Y. Sánchez, H. Xie, M. Colina, M. Placidi, P. Pistor, V. Izquierdo-Roca, K. Leifer, A. Pérez-Rodríguez, E. Saucedo, Adv. Energy Mater. 5, 15010701501070 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. K. Pal, P. Singh, A. Bhaduri, K.B. Thapa, Sol. Energy Mater. Sol. Cells 196, 138138 (2019)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. D.X. Wang, W.G. Zhao, Y. Zhang, S.Z. Liu, J. Energy Chem. 27, 1040 (2018)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Q. Shu, J.-H. Yang, S. Chen, B. Huang, H. Xiang, X.-G. Gong, S.-H. Wei, Phys. Rev. B 87, 115208 (2013)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  28. S. Chen, A. Walsh, X.G. Gong, S.H. Wei, Adv. Mater. 25, 1522 (2013)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. S. Ma, H. Li, J. Hong, H. Wang, X. Lu, Y. Chen, L. Sun, F. Yue, J.W. Tomm, J. Chu, S. Chen, J. Phys. Chem. Lett. 10, 7929 (2019)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. M.A. Green, E.D. Dunlop, M. Yoshita, N. Kopidakis, K. Bothe, G. Siefer, X. Hao, Prog. Photovoltaics Res. Appl. 32, 33 (2023)

    Google Scholar 

  31. T. Gershon, Y.S. Lee, P. Antunez, R. Mankad, S. Singh, D. Bishop, O. Gunawan, M. Hopstaken, R. Haight, Adv. Energy Mater. 6, 1502468 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. W.C. Huang, S.Y. Wei, C.H. Cai, W.H. Ho, C.H. Lai, J. Mater. Chem. A 6, 15170 (2018)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Y. Qi, Q. Tian, Y. Meng, D. Kou, Z. Zhou, W. Zhou, S. Wu, A.C.S. Appl, Mater. Interfaces 9, 21243 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Y. Gong, Y. Zhang, Q. Zhu, Y. Zhou, R. Qiu, C. Niu, W. Yan, W. Huang, H. Xin, Energy Environ. Sci. 14, 2369 (2021)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. S. Giraldo, E. Saucedo, M. Neuschitzer, F. Oliva, M. Placidi, X. Alcobe, V. Izquierdo-Roca, S. Kim, H. Tampo, H. Shibata, A. Perez-Rodriguez, P. Pistor, Energy Environ. Sci. 11, 582 (2018)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Z.-K. Yuan, S. Chen, H. Xiang, X.-G. Gong, A. Walsh, J.-S. Park, I. Repins, S.-H. Wei, Adv. Funct. Mater. 25, 6733 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. S. Chen, L.-W. Wang, A. Walsh, X.G. Gong, S.-H. Wei, Appl. Phys. Lett. 101, 223901 (2012)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  38. M. Kangsabanik, R.N. Gayen, Sol. RRL 7, 2300670 (2023)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. G. Ren, D. Zhuang, M. Zhao, Y. Wei, Y. Wu, X. Li, X. Lyu, C. Wang, Y. Li, J. Power. Sources 479, 228747 (2020)

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the support of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 62064005), Double Thousand Plan of Jiangxi Province (Grant No. jxsq2018101019), the Innovative Talents Program of Ganzhou (Grant No. 2022CXRC9294) and Scientific Research Foundation of Jiangxi University of Science and Technology (Grant Nos. 205200100100 and 205200100346).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Optoelectronic Materials and Devices, Faculty of Materials Metallurgy and Chemistry, Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, Ganzhou, 341000, China

    Jiaming Hu, Xiuxun Han, Wuzhi Zhu, Fangfang Wu & Xiaohui Tan

Authors
  1. Jiaming Hu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Xiuxun Han
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Wuzhi Zhu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Fangfang Wu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Xiaohui Tan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

JH, investigation; XH, conceptualization, supervision and project administration; WZ, investigation and formal analysis; FFW, investigation; XT, methodology, investigation and writing.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Xiuxun Han or Xiaohui Tan.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Supplementary Information

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary file1 (DOCX 103 KB)

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Hu, J., Han, X., Zhu, W. et al. Comparative study on the effects of substitutional Ag and substitutional Ge on kesterite thin-film solar cells. Appl. Phys. A 130, 177 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-024-07345-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-024-07345-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation