Unveiling microscopic carrier loss mechanisms in 12% efficient Cu2ZnSnSe4 solar cells

Jianjun Li (), Jialiang Huang, Fajun Ma, Heng Sun, Jialin Cong, Karen Privat, Richard F. Webster, Soshan Cheong, Yin Yao, Robert Lee Chin, Xiaojie Yuan, Mingrui He, Kaiwen Sun, Hui Li, Yaohua Mai, Ziv Hameiri, Nicholas J. Ekins-Daukes, Richard D. Tilley, Thomas Unold, Martin A. Green and Xiaojing Hao ()
Additional contact information
Jianjun Li: University of New South Wales
Jialiang Huang: University of New South Wales
Fajun Ma: University of New South Wales
Heng Sun: University of New South Wales
Jialin Cong: University of New South Wales
Karen Privat: University of New South Wales
Richard F. Webster: University of New South Wales
Soshan Cheong: University of New South Wales
Yin Yao: University of New South Wales
Robert Lee Chin: University of New South Wales
Xiaojie Yuan: University of New South Wales
Mingrui He: University of New South Wales
Kaiwen Sun: University of New South Wales
Hui Li: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Yaohua Mai: Jinan University
Ziv Hameiri: University of New South Wales
Nicholas J. Ekins-Daukes: University of New South Wales
Richard D. Tilley: University of New South Wales
Thomas Unold: Helmholtz-Zentrum für Materialien und Energie
Martin A. Green: University of New South Wales
Xiaojing Hao: University of New South Wales

Nature Energy, 2022, vol. 7, issue 8, 754-764

Abstract: Abstract Understanding carrier loss mechanisms at microscopic regions is imperative for the development of high-performance polycrystalline inorganic thin-film solar cells. Despite the progress achieved for kesterite, a promising environmentally benign and earth-abundant thin-film photovoltaic material, the microscopic carrier loss mechanisms and their impact on device performance remain largely unknown. Herein, we unveil these mechanisms in state-of-the-art Cu2ZnSnSe4 (CZTSe) solar cells using a framework that integrates multiple microscopic and macroscopic characterizations with three-dimensional device simulations. The results indicate the CZTSe films have a relatively long intragrain electron lifetime of 10–30 ns and small recombination losses through bandgap and/or electrostatic potential fluctuations. We identify that the effective minority carrier lifetime of CZTSe is dominated by a large grain boundary recombination velocity (~104 cm s−1), which is the major limiting factor of present device performance. These findings and the framework can greatly advance the research of kesterite and other emerging photovoltaic materials.

Date: 2022
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DOI: 10.1038/s41560-022-01078-7

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