Gradient bandgap modification for highly efficient carrier transport in antimony sulfide-selenide tandem solar cells

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Yu Cao - , Northeast Dianli University (Author)
  • Chaoying Liu - , Northeast Dianli University, Beijing Power Transmission & Transformation Corporation (Author)
  • Tinghe Yang - , Northeast Dianli University (Author)
  • Yao Zhao - , China Railway Design Corporation (Author)
  • Yanling Na - , China Railway Design Corporation, National Engineering Laboratory for Digital Construction and Evaluation Technology of Urban Rail Transit (Author)
  • Chongxv Jiang - , China Railway Design Corporation, National Engineering Laboratory for Digital Construction and Evaluation Technology of Urban Rail Transit (Author)
  • Jing Zhou - , Northeast Dianli University (Author)
  • Jinbo Pang - , University of Jinan (Author)
  • Hong Liu - , University of Jinan, Shandong University (Author)
  • Mark H. Rummeli - , Chair of Experimental Solid State Physics, College of Energy, Soochow University, Polish Academy of Sciences, Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden, VŠB – Technical University of Ostrava (Author)
  • Weijia Zhou - , University of Jinan (Author)
  • Gianaurelio Cuniberti - , Chair of Materials Science and Nanotechnology, Center for Advancing Electronics Dresden (cfaed) (Author)

Abstract

Antimony chalcogenides emerge as a type of efficient material for solar cells. In particular, antimony sulfide-selenide (SbSSe) has attracted significant interests based on their simple preparation, excellent photoelectric performance, and tunable bandgaps. In this study, by applying energy-band engineering technologies, we achieved carrier transport balance and light absorption balance for SbSSe single- and triple-junction solar cells, respectively. First in a single junction solar cell, the photoelectric conversion efficiency (PCE) of SbSSe solar cells is improved from 13.14% to 16.16% with a front-gradient Se content structure compared to a non-gradient Se content SbSSe solar cell. This improvement is attributed to the additional electric field induced by such a gradient bandgap, promoting the carrier motion. Consequently, the balance of carrier transport is realized by adjusting the drift velocities of holes and electrons simultaneously, thereby surpassing carrier recombination and improving the device parameters of short-circuit current density (Jsc) and fill factor (FF). In a next step, an SbSSe of advanced gradient bandgap has been applied as the absorber layer of middle-cell in an antimony chalcogenide based triple-junction solar cell. Based on the high Jsc and FF advantages of SbSSe sub-cells with front-gradient Se content structure, the uniform absorption of sunlight in each sub-cell and current matching of tandem solar cells could be easily realized. Eventually, the PCE of the triple-junction solar cell exhibits an enhancement from 17.34% to 19.51%. Our results demonstrate that the application of energy-band engineering technology can effectively improve device performance, providing theoretical guidance for the refined design and nanomanufacturing development of antimony chalcogenide solar cells.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number111926
Number of pages12
JournalSolar energy materials and solar cells
Volume246
Publication statusPublished - 1 Oct 2022
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

WOS 000843000600004

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals

Keywords

  • Carrier transport, Gradient Se content, SbSSe solar Cell, Triple-junction solar cell