First-principles study of defect control in thin-film solar cell materials

A solar cell is a photovoltaic device that converts solar radiation energy to electrical energy, which plays a leading role in alleviating global energy shortages and decreasing air pollution levels typical of conventional fossil fuels. To render solar cells more efficient, high visible-light absorp...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science China. Physics, mechanics & astronomy mechanics & astronomy, 2021-03, Vol.64 (3), p.237301, Article 237301
Main Authors: Deng, Hui-Xiong, Cao, RuYue, Wei, Su-Huai
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Absorption
Air pollution
Astronomy
Carrier recombination
Carrier transport
Carrier traps
Classical and Continuum Physics
Copper indium gallium selenides
Defects
Dielectric films
Efficiency
Electromagnetic absorption
Energy minerals
Energy shortages
Engineering
First principles
Fossil fuels
Invited Review
Observations and Techniques
Perovskites
Photovoltaic cells
Photovoltaics
Physics
Physics and Astronomy
Pollution control
Pollution levels
Radiation
Science
Semiconductors
Solar cells
Solar energy
Solar energy industry
Solar radiation
Thin films
Transport properties
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:A solar cell is a photovoltaic device that converts solar radiation energy to electrical energy, which plays a leading role in alleviating global energy shortages and decreasing air pollution levels typical of conventional fossil fuels. To render solar cells more efficient, high visible-light absorption rates and excellent carrier transport properties are required to generate high carrier levels and high output voltage. Hence, the core material, i.e., the absorption layer, should have an appropriate direct band gap and be effectively doped by both p- and n-types with minimal carrier traps and recombination centers. Consequently, defect properties of absorbers are critical in determining solar cell efficiency. In this work, we review recent first-principles studies of defect properties and engineering in four representative thin-film solar cells, namely CdTe, Cu(In,Ga)Se 2 , Cu 2 ZnSnS 4 , and halide perovskites. The focal points include basic electronic and defect properties, existing problems, and possible solutions in engineering defect properties of those materials to optimize solar cell efficiency.
ISSN:1674-7348
1869-1927
DOI:10.1007/s11433-020-1634-4