Phase diagrams of the Ag–In–Se photovoltaic material system

• Published in: Journal of alloys and compounds 2016-01, Vol.656, p.58-66
• Main Authors: Chen, Sinn-wen, Chang, Jui-shen, Tseng, Ssu-ming, Chang, Liang-chun, Lin, Jhe-yu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alloys; Indium selenides; Liquids; Phase equilibria; Photovoltaic cells; Silver; Solar cell alloys; Solar cells; Solid solutions; Solidification; Terminals
• ISSN: 0925-8388; 1873-4669
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2015.09.206

Ternary Ag–In–Se alloys are promising photovoltaic materials. The liquidus projection and the 450 °C isothermal section of the ternary Ag–In–Se system are determined. The primary solidification phases include three terminal solid solution phases, (Ag), (In), and (Se), nine binary intermediate phases, β-(Ag3In), ζ-(Ag3In), γ-(Ag9In4), φ-(AgIn2), β-(Ag2Se), In2Se3, In6Se7, InSe, and In4Se3, and two ternary compounds, AgInSe2 and AgIn5Se8. There are fourteen invariant reactions involving liquid, and seven of them are experimentally determined in this study. The reactions with the highest and lowest reaction temperatures are L + (Ag) ↔ AgInSe2 + β-(Ag2Se) at 631.7 °C and L ↔ φ-(AgIn2) + InSe + (In) at 142.8 °C, respectively. In the 450 °C isothermal section, there are eleven tie-triangles, which are (Ag) + β-(Ag2Se) + AgInSe2, (Ag) + AgInSe2 + InSe, (Ag) + ζ-(Ag3In) + InSe, ζ-(Ag3In) + InSe + Liquid, In4Se3 + InSe + Liquid, AgInSe2 + InSe + AgIn5Se8, InSe + In6Se7 + AgIn5Se8, AgIn5Se8 + In6Se7 + In2Se3, AgIn5Se8 + In2Se3 + Liquid, AgInSe2 + AgIn5Se8 + Liquid and β-(Ag2Se) + AgInSe2 + Liquid. [Display omitted] •The Ag–In–Se liquidus projection and 450 °C isothermal section are determined.•There are 14 primary solidification phases in the Ag–In–Se system.•There are 14 ternary invariant reactions involving liquid in the Ag–In–Se system.•There are 11 tie-triangles in the Ag–In–Se isothermal section at 450 °C.