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ZnO compact layers used in third-generation photovoltaic devices: a review

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Abstract

ZnO is a well-known semitransparent semiconductor with wide applicability in semiconducting devices such as solar cells, LEDs, MOSFETs, gas sensor devices, or biosensors. Solar cells are promising devices to contribute in the global goals of green energy economies, but it is still necessary to join forces in order to improve the relation efficiency/cost and to decrease the environmental impact of photovoltaic devices. Third-generation (also known as emerging) photovoltaic technologies are alternatives to the silicon, CdTe and CIGS conventional solar cells which are favorable for high scale or low power clean and low-cost energy production. One of the most used materials in the emerging photovoltaic technologies is the ZnO, which can be used in several emerging devices and which has been widely studied by using different techniques. Here we made a review of the recent contributions related to the use of ZnO layers on emerging solar cells, the synthesis methods used and the pros and cons of those, the role of ZnO films in the different emerging technologies, and the relation between optical and electrical properties of ZnO with the main experimental parameters, as well as the main challenges and perspectives linked to this material in the field of the third-generation photovoltaic technologies.

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Acknowledgements

This research was funded by Universidad Industrial de Santander (Posdoctoral research supporting program VIE). Contract RC N°011-1583.

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  1. Escuela de Ingenierías Eléctrica, Electrónica Y Telecomunicaciones, Universidad Industrial de Santander, Bucaramanga, Colombia

    C. Otalora, M. A. Botero & G. Ordoñez

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  1. C. Otalora
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  2. M. A. Botero
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  3. G. Ordoñez
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Contributions

CO, MB, and GO contributed to conceptualization; MB contributed to validation; CO, MB, and GO contributed to formal analysis ; CO contributed to investigation; MB and GO contributed to resources; CO contributed to writing–original draft preparation; MB and GO contributed to writing–review and editing; GO contributed to supervision; MB contributed to project administration.

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Correspondence to C. Otalora.

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This study was funded by Universidad Industrial de Santander Posdoctoral research supporting program VIE (grant number RC N°011–1583). Conflict of Interest: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Otalora, C., Botero, M.A. & Ordoñez, G. ZnO compact layers used in third-generation photovoltaic devices: a review. J Mater Sci 56, 15538–15571 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-021-06275-5

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