TY - JOUR
T1 - Vacuum-Healing of Grain Boundaries in Sodium-Doped CuInSe2 Solar Cell Absorbers
T2 - Article No. 2204183
AU - Babbe, Finn
AU - Nicoara, Nicoleta
AU - Guthrey, Harvey
AU - Valle, Nathalie
AU - Ramirez Sanchez, Omar
AU - Aureau, Damien
AU - Elanzeery, Hossam
AU - Sharma, Deepanjan
AU - Virtuoso, Jose
AU - Audinot, Jean-Nicolas
AU - Zelenina, Anastasiya
AU - Gharabeiki, Sevan
AU - Wirtz, Tom
AU - Siebentritt, Susanne
AU - Dale, Phillip
AU - Sadewasser, Sascha
AU - Colombara, Diego
PY - 2023
Y1 - 2023
N2 - Alkali metal doping and grain boundaries (GB) have been at the center of attention within the Cu(In,Ga)(S,Se)2 photovoltaics community for years. This study provides the first experimental evidence that the GB of sodium-doped CuInSe2 thin films may undertake reversible oxidation even at room temperature, whereas undoped films may not. The findings are corroborated by cathodoluminescence imaging, secondary ion mass spectrometry, and Kelvin probe force microscopy on air-exposed films subsequently subject to vacuum. A thermochemical assessment identifies the likely solid-gas equilibria involved. These reactions open new research questions with respect to the beneficial role played by alkali metal dopants in chalcopyrite solar cells and may steer the community toward new breakthroughs.
AB - Alkali metal doping and grain boundaries (GB) have been at the center of attention within the Cu(In,Ga)(S,Se)2 photovoltaics community for years. This study provides the first experimental evidence that the GB of sodium-doped CuInSe2 thin films may undertake reversible oxidation even at room temperature, whereas undoped films may not. The findings are corroborated by cathodoluminescence imaging, secondary ion mass spectrometry, and Kelvin probe force microscopy on air-exposed films subsequently subject to vacuum. A thermochemical assessment identifies the likely solid-gas equilibria involved. These reactions open new research questions with respect to the beneficial role played by alkali metal dopants in chalcopyrite solar cells and may steer the community toward new breakthroughs.
KW - alkali metal post-deposition treatment
KW - electrostatic potential fluctuations
KW - grain boundaries
KW - photovoltaics
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85150237977&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1002/aenm.202204183
DO - 10.1002/aenm.202204183
M3 - Article
SN - 1614-6840
VL - 13
JO - Advanced Energy Materials
JF - Advanced Energy Materials
IS - 17
ER -