Solution-Processed One-Dimensional ZnO@CdS Heterojunction toward Efficient Cu2ZnSnS4 Solar Cell with Inverted Structure

Rongrong Chen; Jiandong Fan; Chong Liu; Xing Zhang; Yanjiao Shen; Yaohua Mai

doi:10.1038/srep35300

Solution-Processed One-Dimensional ZnO@CdS Heterojunction toward Efficient Cu₂ZnSnS₄ Solar Cell with Inverted Structure

Sci Rep. 2016 Oct 13:6:35300. doi: 10.1038/srep35300.

Authors

Rongrong Chen¹, Jiandong Fan^{1

2}, Chong Liu¹, Xing Zhang¹, Yanjiao Shen¹, Yaohua Mai^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Photovoltaics, College of Physics Science and Technology, Hebei University, Baoding, 071002, China.
² Institute of New Energy Technology, College of Information and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China.

Abstract

Kesterite Cu₂ZnSnS₄ (CZTS) semiconductor has been demonstrated to be a promising alternative absorber in thin film solar cell in virtue of its earth-abundant, non-toxic element, suitable optical and electrical properties. Herein, a low-cost and non-toxic method that based on the thermal decomposition and reaction of metal-thiourea-oxygen sol-gel complexes to synthesize CZTS thin film was developed. The low-dimensional ZnO@CdS heterojunction nano-arrays coupling with the as-prepared CZTS thin film were employed to fabricate a novel solar cell with inverted structure. The vertically aligned nanowires (NWs) allow facilitating the charge carrier collection/separation/transfer with large interface areas. By optimizing the parameters including the annealing temperature of CZTS absorber, the thickness of CdS buffer layer and the morphology of ZnO NWs, an open-circuit voltage (V_OC) as high as 589 mV was obtained by such solar cell with inverted structure. The all-solution-processed technic allows the realization of CZTS solar cell with extremely low cost.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't