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Annealing evolution to MgCl2 treated CdSe absorber layers for solar cells

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Abstract

The CdCl2 treatment is well-known crucial step to considerably modify the physical properties of absorber layer and power conversion efficiency of associated Cd-based solar cell devices. However, the CdCl2 is a carcinogenic, water-soluble compound and entails more safety procedures to use as activation agent on absorber and window layers together with associated interface or junction to the device. Present meticulous study focuses on impact of MgCl2 annealing treatment on physical properties of thermally deposited CdSe films in order to find appropriate alternative to conventionally toxic CdCl2 treatment. All the films are crystallized in mixture of cubic and hexagonal phases where crystallinity of films is found to improve along with grain growth upon MgCl2 treatment. Optical energy band gap of treated films lied within range 1.60–1.70 eV and films showed two photoluminescence peaks at ~ 625 nm and ~ 675 nm which are related to deep level defects and near band emission of CdSe  system, respectively. Surface topographical analysis showed variation in average surface roughness from 32 nm to 126 nm and grain size from 39 nm to 60 nm with MgCl2 activation treatment and found maximum for 300 °C activated films. The scrutinized results reveal that CdSe films activated with MgCl2 at 300 °C could be suitable alternative absorber layer to the Cd-based solar cells.

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Acknowledgements

Authors are thankful to the DST-FIST through Department of Physics, Mohanlal Sukhadia University, Udaipur for XRD and AFM experimental facilities. The Ministry of Education, Government of India and Ministry of Higher Education, Government of Rajasthan are also acknowledged for partial recurring expenses and PL facility via RUSA 2.0 Research and Innovation projects.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, Mohanlal Sukhadia University, Udaipur, 313001, India

    Suman Kumari & N. Kumari

  2. Department of Physics, Mohanlal Sukhadia University, Udaipur, 313001, India

    Suman Kumari, G. Chasta,  Himanshu & M. S. Dhaka

  3. Department of Chemistry, R.N.R. Govt. College, Ramgarh, Shekhawati, 331024, India

    Suman Kumari

  4. Department of Physics, University Institute of Sciences, Chandigarh University, Mohali, 140413, India

    Himanshu

  5. University Centre for Research & Development, Chandigarh University, Mohali, 140413, India

    Himanshu

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  1. Suman Kumari
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Contributions

Suman Kumari: Methodology, Investigation, Formal analysis, Writing – original draft. G. Chasta: Formal analysis, Writing – original draft. Himanshu: Formal analysis, Writing – original draft. N. Kumari: Investigation, Formal analysis, Supervision, Writing – original draft. M.S. Dhaka: Conceptualization, Supervision, Writing – original draft.

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Correspondence to M. S. Dhaka.

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Kumari, S., Chasta, G., Himanshu et al. Annealing evolution to MgCl2 treated CdSe absorber layers for solar cells. J Mater Sci: Mater Electron 34, 1420 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-023-10775-2

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