Journal article
Solution processed CuSbS2 films for solar cell applications
Thin solid films, v 646, pp 180-189
31 Jan 2018
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
CuSbS2 is a semiconductor with a band gap of 1.5 eV and earth-abundant constituent elements, indicating potential promise as a photovoltaic absorber material. However, strategies to fabricate CuSbS2 films, especially using solution processing, have not been thoroughly developed. We report on two solution-based approaches to deposit CuSbS2 films: chemical bath deposition (CBD) and deposition of colloidal nanoplates. Conditions to directly deposit ternary CuSbS2 (chalcostibite) films were not found, but CuSbS2 films could be formed by annealing CBD-grown bilayers of CuS and Sb2S3. Simultaneous control over phase purity and film morphology proved elusive. To address this challenge, we synthesized colloidal nanoplates of phase-pure chalcostibite CuSbS2 capped with oleylamine ligands following a literature procedure. When colloids are condensed into thin films, these synthesis ligands are insulating and inhibit the inter-crystal charge transfer that is necessary for longrange charge transport. To solve this problem, two approaches were pursued: convective assembly followed by solid-state ligand exchange and a novel process involving solution-phase ligand exchange followed by electrophoretic deposition (EPD). Replacement of oleylamine with S2- increased the film conductivity by two orders of magnitude. S2- capping groups also increased the electrophoretic mobility and enabled EPD at bias voltages as low as 5 V. Time-resolved terahertz spectroscopy indicated transient photoconductivity persisting beyond 1 ns and carrier mobilities of similar to 1 cm(2) V-1 s(-1). While many challenges remain, this work indicates the potential promise of solution-processed CuSbS2 nanoplates as building blocks for photovoltaic devices.
Metrics
Details
- Title
- Solution processed CuSbS2 films for solar cell applications
- Creators
- Michael E. Edley - Drexel UniversityBorirak Opasanont - Drexel UniversityJason T. Conley - Drexel UniversityHoang Tran - Drexel UniversitySergey Y. Smolin - Drexel UniversitySiming Li - Drexel UniversityAndrew D. Dillon - Drexel UniversityAaron T. Fafarman - Drexel UniversityJason B. Baxter - Drexel University
- Publication Details
- Thin solid films, v 646, pp 180-189
- Publisher
- Elsevier
- Number of pages
- 10
- Grant note
- CBET-1333649; CMMI-1463412; DMR-1507988 / NSF; National Science Foundation (NSF) 1507988 / Division Of Materials Research; National Science Foundation (NSF); NSF - Directorate for Mathematical & Physical Sciences (MPS) 1463412 / Directorate For Engineering; National Science Foundation (NSF); NSF - Directorate for Engineering (ENG) DGE-0947936 / NSF GK-12; National Science Foundation (NSF)
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Chemical and Biological Engineering
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000418575900025
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-85038015928
- Other Identifier
- 991019168826404721
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
This publication has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:
InCites Highlights
Data related to this publication, from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool:
- Web of Science research areas
- Materials Science, Coatings & Films
- Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
- Physics, Applied
- Physics, Condensed Matter