Comparison of one and two-stage growth approaches for close space sublimation deposition of Sb<inf>2</inf>Se<inf>3</inf> thin film solar cells

Sindi, DA, Shalvey, TP ORCID: 0000-0002-6008-7561 and Major, JD ORCID: 0000-0002-5554-1985 (2024) Comparison of one and two-stage growth approaches for close space sublimation deposition of Sb<inf>2</inf>Se<inf>3</inf> thin film solar cells Materials Science in Semiconductor Processing, 174. p. 108161. ISSN 1369-8001

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Abstract

In this work, we investigate the impact of grain structure and ribbon orientation on Sb2Se3 solar cells deposited by close space sublimation (CSS). Films of Sb2Se3 were produced using either a single-stage low-temperature “seed-layer” deposition, a high-temperature “growth-layer” deposition, or a combined two-stage deposition process combining both “seed” and “growth” layers. This study demonstrates the essential nature of the “seed” layer to achieve the required substrate coverage and ensure functioning Sb2Se3 solar cells by this technique. A photovoltaic efficiency of 5.07 % was obtained by fabricating solar cells with a two-stage Sb2Se3 growth process using the structure (FTO/TiO2/Sb2Se3/P3HT/Au) in superstrate configuration. Comparisons were made between device performance and ribbon orientation assessed by XRD measurements via a ribbon carrier transport (RCT) analysis method, as well as with surface coverage and grain size. The addition of a second growth stage was found to result in a more vertical ribbon orientation compared to a single low temperature deposition, however predominantly controls the overall surface coverage. We observe no obvious links between the orientation of ribbons and the cell performance. Instead we propose that the performance, and in particular the device VOC, is more strongly determined by the overall grain structure rather than simply by the ribbon orientation.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	40 Engineering, 4016 Materials Engineering, 7 Affordable and Clean Energy
Divisions:	Faculty of Science & Engineering > School of Physical Sciences
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	16 Feb 2024 08:32
Last Modified:	02 Jan 2026 02:12
DOI:	10.1016/j.mssp.2024.108161
Related Websites:	Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3178671
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