Energy band alignment in chalcogenide thin film solar cells from photoelectron spectroscopy

Journal of Physics. Condensed Matter : an Institute of Physics Journal
Andreas Klein

Abstract

Energy band alignment plays an important role in thin film solar cells. This article presents an overview of the energy band alignment in chalcogenide thin film solar cells with a particular focus on the commercially available material systems CdTe and Cu(In,Ga)Se2. Experimental results from two decades of photoelectron spectroscopy experiments are compared with density functional theory calculations taken from literature. It is found that the experimentally determined energy band alignment is in good agreement with theoretical predictions for many interfaces. These alignments, in particular the theoretically predicted alignments, can therefore be considered as the intrinsic or natural alignments for a given material combination. The good agreement between experiment and theory enables a detailed discussion of the interfacial composition of Cu(In,Ga)Se2/CdS interfaces in terms of the contribution of ordered vacancy compounds to the alignment of the energy bands. It is furthermore shown that the most important interfaces in chalcogenide thin film solar cells, those between Cu(In,Ga)Se2 and CdS and between CdS and CdTe are quite insensitive to the processing of the layers. There are plenty of examples where a significant deviatio...Continue Reading

References

Mar 1, 1994·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·R P CiavarraF J Castora
Apr 15, 1987·Physical Review. B, Condensed Matter·M Cardona, N E Christensen
Jan 15, 1988·Physical Review. B, Condensed Matter·D J FriedmanW E Spicer
May 15, 1990·Physical Review. B, Condensed Matter·K JacobiP Althainz
Jun 15, 1990·Physical Review. B, Condensed Matter·D W Niles, H Höchst
Feb 15, 1990·Physical Review. B, Condensed Matter·W R LambrechtO K Andersen
Feb 15, 1990·Physical Review. B, Condensed Matter·W R Lambrecht, B Segall
Jun 15, 1992·Physical Review. B, Condensed Matter·R T Tung
Jul 6, 1987·Physical Review Letters·S H Wei, A Zunger
Feb 3, 2004·Physical Review Letters·Clas Persson, Alex Zunger
Mar 16, 2007·Physical Review Letters·Stephan Lany, Alex Zunger
Aug 15, 2013·Nature Communications·Lukas KranzAyodhya N Tiwari
Mar 4, 2014·Zentralblatt für Chirurgie·H F Fuchs, A H Hölscher

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Jul 6, 2019·ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces·Thomas J WhittlesVinod R Dhanak
Mar 9, 2019·ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces·Craig L PerkinsWyatt K Metzger
Apr 7, 2020·Chemical Reviews·Rachel Woods-RobinsonAndriy Zakutayev
Nov 11, 2017·ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces·Thomas J WhittlesVinod R Dhanak
Aug 18, 2020·ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces·Tom BainesJonathan D Major

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.

Related Papers

Chemphyschem : a European Journal of Chemical Physics and Physical Chemistry
Erik M J JohanssonHåkan Rensmo
Microscopy and Microanalysis : the Official Journal of Microscopy Society of America, Microbeam Analysis Society, Microscopical Society of Canada
Debora KellerAyodhya N Tiwari
Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics : PCCP
Brad D MaloneEfthimios Kaxiras
© 2021 Meta ULC. All rights reserved