Li, J.; Huang, J.; Ma, F.; Sun, H.; Cong, J.; Privat, K.; Webster, R.F.; Cheong, S.; Yao, Y.; Chin, R.L.; Yuan, X.; He, M.; Sun, K.; Li, H.; Mai, Y.; Hameiri, Z.; Ekins-Daukes, N.J.; Tilley, R.D.; Unold, T.; Green, M.A.; Hao, X.: Unveiling microscopic carrier loss mechanisms in 12% efficient Cu2ZnSnSe4 solar cells. Nature Energy 7 (2022), p. 754-764
10.1038/s41560-022-01078-7
Open Access Version
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.