Material Interface Optimization in ETA-Photovoltaics
EMSL Project ID
33405
Abstract
This project aims to provide a fundamental scientific foundation to understand the charge transport in novel oxide-based solar cells, and to tailor the transport by doping and/or interface modification of the material systems. These results will provide the basis for improvements in solar cell efficiency, which is a primary goal in the quest to harness solar power to meet the worldâ??s energy demands. The research project focuses on proposed extremely thin absorber (ETA) solar cell designs, and consists of a study of the band alignments between n-type ZnO and common inorganic photon absorber, p-type semiconductor, and electrode materials in both thin film form and nanostructured devices.Deposition of well-defined n-type oxides such as ZnO by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) is a signature strength of our laboratory, and this knowledge will be extended to deposition of inorganic photon absorber (CdTe) and p-type semiconductor (CuSCN) materials. Band offset measurements by high resolution x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) are another area of expertise, and will provide valuable information on the efficacy of charge injection from the absorber to the semiconductor oxide, and from the semiconductor oxide to the electrode. Further, bulk electronic charge transport can be measured utilizing a multi-functional Physical Property Measurement System (PPMS). With these results, the band alignments and thus charge transport can be optimized through either cation or anion doping of the n-type ZnO, and/or interface modification. Once optimized materials parameters are determined, they will be applied to nanostructured ZnO (deposited by PLD) in material stacks similar to solar cell devices.
Project Details
Project type
Exploratory Research
Start Date
2009-06-03
End Date
2010-06-06
Status
Closed
Released Data Link
Team
Principal Investigator
Team Members