Citation: Yingfen Li, Zhiqi Wang, Yunhai Zhao, Dajun Luo, Xueliang Zhang, Jun Zhao, Zhenghua Su, Shuo Chen, Guangxing Liang. Potassium doping for grain boundary passivation and defect suppression enables highly-efficient kesterite solar cells[J]. Chinese Chemical Letters, ;2024, 35(11): 109468. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2023.109468 shu

Potassium doping for grain boundary passivation and defect suppression enables highly-efficient kesterite solar cells

Yingfen Li ^a ,
Zhiqi Wang ^a ,
Yunhai Zhao ^{b, *,} ,
Dajun Luo ^a ,
Xueliang Zhang ^a ,
Jun Zhao ^b ,
Zhenghua Su ^b ,
Shuo Chen ^b ,
Guangxing Liang ^{b, *,}

a.
College of Materials and Energy Engineering, Guizhou Institute of Technology, Guiyang 550003, China
b.
Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Advanced Thin Films and Applications, Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Devices and Systems of Ministry of Education and Guangdong Province, College of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China

z13137580389@163.com

lgx@szu.edu.cn

Received Date: 4 December 2023
Revised Date: 16 December 2023
Accepted Date: 26 December 2023
Available Online: 5 January 2024

Figures(4)

The complicated and diverse deep defects, voids, and grain boundary in the CZTSSe absorber are the main reasons for carrier recombination and efficiency degradation. The further improvement of the open-circuit voltage and fill factor so as to increase the efficiency of CZTSSe device is urgent. In this work, we obtained K-doped CZTSSe absorber by a simple solution method. The medium-sized K atoms, which combine the advantages of light and heavy alkali metals, are able to enter the grain interior as well as segregate at grain boundary. The K-Se liquid phase can improve the absorber crystallinity. We find that the accumulation of the wide bandgap compound K₂Sn₂S₅ at grain boundary can increase the contact potential difference of grain boundary, form more effective hole barriers, and enhance the charge separation ability. At the same time, K doping passivates the interface as well as bulk defects and suppresses the non-radiative recombination. The improved crystallinity, enhanced charge transport capability and reduced defect density due to K doping result in a significant enhancement of the carrier lifetime, leading to 13.04% device efficiency. This study provides a new idea for simultaneous realization of grain boundary passivation and defect suppression in inorganic kesterite solar cells.
- Kesterite,
- Solar cell,
- Chemical doping,
- Defect,
- Efficiency
1. [1]
  M.A. Green, E.D. Dunlop, M. Yoshita, et al., Prog. Photovolt Res. Appl. 31 (2023) 651–663. doi: 10.1002/pip.3726
2. [2]
  Z. Yu, C. Li, S. Chen, et al., Adv. Energy Mater. 13 (2023) 2300521. doi: 10.1002/aenm.202300521
3. [3]
  Z. Xia, F.X. Yu, S.C. Lu, et al., Chin. Chem. Lett. 28 (2017) 881–887. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2017.03.003
4. [4]
  N. Yan, C. Zhao, S. You, et al., Chin. Chem. Lett. 31 (2020) 643–653. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2019.08.022
5. [5]
  G.X. Liang, C.H. Li, J. Zhao, et al., SusMat (2023) 682–696.
6. [6]
  Y. Zhao, Z. Yu, J. Hu, et al., J. Energy Chem. 75 (2022) 321–329. doi: 10.1016/j.jechem.2022.08.031
7. [7]
  J. Lin, G. Chen, N. Ahmad, et al., J. Energy Chem. 80 (2023) 256–264. doi: 10.1016/j.jechem.2023.01.049
8. [8]
  G. Liang, Z. Li, M. Ishaq, et al., Adv. Energy Mater. 13 (2023) 2300215. doi: 10.1002/aenm.202300215
9. [9]
  N. Ahmad, Y. Zhao, F. Ye, et al., Adv. Sci. 10 (2023) e2302869.
10. [10]
  Y.H. Zhao, Q.Q. Gao, S.J. Yuan, et al., Chem. Eng. J. 436 (2022) 135008. doi: 10.1016/j.cej.2022.135008
11. [11]
  M. Raghuwanshi, A. Vilalta-Clemente, C. Castro, et al., Nano Energy 60 (2019) 103–110. doi: 10.1016/j.nanoen.2019.03.028
12. [12]
  J.H. Kim, M.K. Kim, A. Gadisa, et al., Small 16 (2020) e2003865.
13. [13]
  Y. Sun, H. Guo, P. Qiu, et al., J. Energy Chem. (2020) 618–626.
14. [14]
  Z. Tong, C. Yan, Z. Su, et al., Appl. Phys. Lett. 105 (2014) 223903. doi: 10.1063/1.4903500
15. [15]
  H. Guo, G. Wang, R. Meng, et al., J. Mater. Chem. A 8 (2020) 22065–22074. doi: 10.1039/D0TA07268K
16. [16]
  X. Chang, J. Fu, D. Kou, et al., J. Mater. Chem. A 9 (2021) 413–422. doi: 10.1039/D0TA08224D
17. [17]
  S. Tan, J. Shi, B. Yu, et al., Adv. Funct. Mater. 31 (2021) 2010813. doi: 10.1002/adfm.202010813
18. [18]
  Z.K. Yuan, S. Chen, Y. Xie, et al., Adv. Energy Mater. 6 (2016) 1601191. doi: 10.1002/aenm.201601191
19. [19]
  E.H. Alruqobah, R. Agrawal, ACS Appl. Energy Mater 3 (2020) 4821–4830. doi: 10.1021/acsaem.0c00422
20. [20]
  E. Handick, P. Reinhard, R.G. Wilks, et al., ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 9 (2017) 3581–3589. doi: 10.1021/acsami.6b11892
21. [21]
  P. Reinhard, B. Bissig, F. Pianezzi, et al., Chem. Mater. 27 (2015) 5755–5764. doi: 10.1021/acs.chemmater.5b02335
22. [22]
  T. Maeda, A. Kawabata, T. Wada, Phys. Status Solidi C 12 (2015) 631–637. doi: 10.1002/pssc.201400345
23. [23]
  Y. Zhao, S. Yuan, D. Kou, et al., ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 12 (2020) 12717–12726. doi: 10.1021/acsami.9b21354
24. [24]
  Y. Luo, G. Chen, S. Chen, et al., Adv. Funct. Mater. 33 (2023) 2213941. doi: 10.1002/adfm.202213941
25. [25]
  Z. Zhang, Y. Qi, W. Zhao, et al., J. Alloys Compd. 910 (2022) 164665. doi: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2022.164665
26. [26]
  H.S. Duan, W. Yang, B. Bob, et al., Adv. Funct. Mater. 23 (2013) 1466–1471. doi: 10.1002/adfm.201201732
27. [27]
  S. Chen, A. Walsh, X.G. Gong, S.H. Wei, Adv. Mater. 25 (2013) 1522–1539. doi: 10.1002/adma.201203146
28. [28]
  Y. Zhao, S. Yuan, Q. Chang, et al., Adv. Funct. Mater. 31 (2020) 2007928.
29. [29]
  Q. Yan, S. Cheng, X. Yu, et al., Solar RRL (2019) 1900410.
30. [30]
  Y. Gong, R. Qiu, C. Niu, et al., Adv. Funct. Mater. 31 (2021) 2101927. doi: 10.1002/adfm.202101927
31. [31]
  C.P. Muzzillo, Sol. Energy Mater. Sol. Cells 172 (2017) 18–24. doi: 10.1016/j.solmat.2017.07.006
32. [32]
  M. Malitckaya, H.P. Komsa, V. Havu, M.J. Puska, J. Phys. Chem. C 121 (2017) 15516–15528. doi: 10.1021/acs.jpcc.7b03083
33. [33]
  S. Chen, Y. Fu, M. Ishaq, et al., InfoMat 5 (2023) e12400.
34. [34]
  Z. Xu, Q. Gao, C. Cui, et al., Adv. Funct. Mater. 33 (2022) 2209187.
35. [35]
  S. Yuan, H. Deng, X. Yang, et al., ACS Photonics 4 (2017) 2862–2870. doi: 10.1021/acsphotonics.7b00858
36. [36]
  S. Yuan, X. Wang, Y. Zhao, et al., ACS Appl. Energy Mater. 3 (2020) 6785–6792. doi: 10.1021/acsaem.0c00917
37. [37]
  Z. Shen, S. Wang, Y. Liu, et al., J. Energy Chem. 62 (2021) 637–644. doi: 10.1016/j.jechem.2021.04.018
38. [38]
  X. Xu, L.B. Guo, J.Z. Zhou, et al., Adv. Energy Mater. 11 (2021) 2102298. doi: 10.1002/aenm.202102298
39. [39]
  K.O. Klepp, Z. Naturforsch 47 (1992) 197–200.
40. [40]
  P. Fan, J. Lin, J. Hu, et al., Adv. Funct. Mater. 32 (2022) 2207470. doi: 10.1002/adfm.202207470
41. [41]
  C.C. Cui, D.X. Kou, W.H. Zhou, et al., J. Energy Chem. 67 (2022) 555–562. doi: 10.1016/j.jechem.2021.10.035
42. [42]
  L. Yin, G. Cheng, Y. Feng, et al., RSC Adv. 5 (2015) 40369–40374. doi: 10.1039/C5RA00069F
43. [43]
  S. Tao, L. Dong, J. Han, et al., J. Mater. Chem. A 11 (2023) 9085–9096. doi: 10.1039/D2TA09916K
44. [44]
  J. Fu, A.F. Zhang, D.X. Kou, et al., Chem. Eng. J. 457 (2023) 141348. doi: 10.1016/j.cej.2023.141348
45. [45]
  K. Yang, M. Lv, Y. Chang, et al., Chin. Chem. Lett. 35 (2024) 109018. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2023.109018
46. [46]
  C. Ge, P. Wang, P. Yuan, et al., Chin. Chem. Lett. 35 (2024) 109352. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2023.109352
47. [47]
  Y. Zhao, J. Zhao, X. Chen, et al., Chem. Eng. J. 479 (2024) 147739. doi: 10.1016/j.cej.2023.147739
48. [48]
  Y. Cheng, Q. Wei, N. Wang, et al., Chin. Chem. Lett. 34 (2023) 107933. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2022.107933
49. [49]
  Y. Zhao, S. Chen, M. Ishaq, et al., Adv. Funct. Mater. 34 (2024) 2311992. doi: 10.1002/adfm.202311992
50. [50]
  G. Chen, Y. Luo, M. Abbas, et al., Adv. Mater. 36 (2023) 2308522.
1. [1]
  Bingke Zhang , Dongbo Wang , Jiamu Cao , Wen He , Gang Liu , Donghao Liu , Chenchen Zhao , Jingwen Pan , Sihang Liu , Weifeng Zhang , Xuan Fang , Liancheng Zhao , Jinzhong Wang . Tuning Stark effect by defect engineering on black titanium dioxide mesoporous spheres for enhanced hydrogen evolution. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2024, 35(11): 110254-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2024.110254
2. [2]
  Yixuan Gao , Lingxing Zan , Wenlin Zhang , Qingbo Wei . Comprehensive Innovation Experiment: Preparation and Characterization of Carbon-based Perovskite Solar Cells. University Chemistry, 2024, 39(4): 178-183. doi: 10.3866/PKU.DXHX202311091
3. [3]
  Runhua Chen , Qiong Wu , Jingchen Luo , Xiaolong Zu , Shan Zhu , Yongfu Sun . 缺陷态二维超薄材料用于光/电催化CO₂还原的基础与展望. Acta Physico-Chimica Sinica, 2025, 41(3): 2308052-. doi: 10.3866/PKU.WHXB202308052
4. [4]
  Kai Han , Guohui Dong , Ishaaq Saeed , Tingting Dong , Chenyang Xiao . Boosting bulk charge transport of CuWO4 photoanodes via Cs doping for solar water oxidation. Chinese Journal of Structural Chemistry, 2024, 43(2): 100207-100207. doi: 10.1016/j.cjsc.2023.100207
5. [5]
  Yan Wang , Huixin Chen , Fuda Yu , Shanyue Wei , Jinhui Song , Qianfeng He , Yiming Xie , Miaoliang Huang , Canzhong Lu . Oxygen self-doping pyrolyzed polyacrylic acid as sulfur host with physical/chemical adsorption dual function for lithium-sulfur batteries. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2024, 35(7): 109001-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2023.109001
6. [6]
  Shengkai Li , Yuqin Zou , Chen Chen , Shuangyin Wang , Zhao-Qing Liu . Defect engineered electrocatalysts for C–N coupling reactions toward urea synthesis. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2024, 35(8): 109147-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2023.109147
7. [7]
  Hong Yin , Zhipeng Yu . Hexavalent iridium catalyst enhances efficiency of hydrogen production. Chinese Journal of Structural Chemistry, 2025, 44(1): 100382-100382. doi: 10.1016/j.cjsc.2024.100382
8. [8]
  Ziruo Zhou , Wenyu Guo , Tingyu Yang , Dandan Zheng , Yuanxing Fang , Xiahui Lin , Yidong Hou , Guigang Zhang , Sibo Wang . Defect and nanostructure engineering of polymeric carbon nitride for visible-light-driven CO2 reduction. Chinese Journal of Structural Chemistry, 2024, 43(3): 100245-100245. doi: 10.1016/j.cjsc.2024.100245
9. [9]
  Tengjia Ni , Xianbiao Hou , Huanlei Wang , Lei Chu , Shuixing Dai , Minghua Huang . Controllable defect engineering based on cobalt metal-organic framework for boosting oxygen evolution reaction. Chinese Journal of Structural Chemistry, 2024, 43(1): 100210-100210. doi: 10.1016/j.cjsc.2024.100210
10. [10]
  Qijun Tang , Wenguang Tu , Yong Zhou , Zhigang Zou . High efficiency and selectivity catalyst for photocatalytic oxidative coupling of methane. Chinese Journal of Structural Chemistry, 2023, 42(12): 100170-100170. doi: 10.1016/j.cjsc.2023.100170
11. [11]
  Tao LIU , Yuting TIAN , Ke GAO , Xuwei HAN , Ru'nan MIN , Wenjing ZHAO , Xueyi SUN , Caixia YIN . A photothermal agent with high photothermal conversion efficiency and high stability for tumor therapy. Chinese Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, 2024, 40(8): 1622-1632. doi: 10.11862/CJIC.20240107
12. [12]
  Changzhu Huang , Wei Dai , Shimao Deng , Yixin Tian , Xiaolin Liu , Jia Lin , Hong Chen . A self-cleaning window for high-efficiency photodegradation of indoor formaldehyde. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2024, 35(9): 109429-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2023.109429
13. [13]
  Jing Zhang , Charles Wang , Yaoyao Zhang , Haining Xia , Yujuan Wang , Kun Ma , Junfeng Wang . Application of magnetotactic bacteria as engineering microrobots: Higher delivery efficiency of antitumor medicine. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2024, 35(10): 109420-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2023.109420
14. [14]
  Zihao Wang , Jing Xue , Zhicui Song , Jianxiong Xing , Aijun Zhou , Jianmin Ma , Jingze Li . Li-Zn alloy patch for defect-free polymer interface film enables excellent protection effect towards stable Li metal anode. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2024, 35(10): 109489-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2024.109489
15. [15]
  Wen Xiao , Fazhan Wang , Yangzhuo Gu , Xi He , Na Fan , Qian Zheng , Shugang Qin , Zhongshan He , Yuquan Wei , Xiangrong Song . PEG400-mediated nanocarriers improve the delivery and therapeutic efficiency of mRNA tumor vaccines. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2024, 35(5): 108755-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2023.108755
16. [16]
  Linjing Li , Wenlai Xu , Jianyong Ning , Yaping Zhong , Chuyue Zhang , Jiane Zuo , Zhicheng Pan . Revealing the intrinsic mechanisms for accelerating nitrogen removal efficiency in the Anammox reactor by adding Fe(II) at low temperature. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2024, 35(8): 109243-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2023.109243
17. [17]
  Feng Wu , Xuemin Kong , Yixuan Liu , Shuli Wang , Zhong Chen , Xu Hou . Microfluidic-based isolation of circulating tumor cells with high-efficiency and high-purity. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2024, 35(8): 109754-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2024.109754
18. [18]
  Yongkang Yue , Zhou Xu , Kaiqing Ma , Fangjun Huo , Xuemei Qin , Kuanshou Zhang , Caixia Yin . HSA shrinkage optimizes the photostability of embedded dyes fundamentally to amplify their efficiency as photothermal materials. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2024, 35(8): 109223-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2023.109223
19. [19]
  Baokang Geng , Xiang Chu , Li Liu , Lingling Zhang , Shuaishuai Zhang , Xiao Wang , Shuyan Song , Hongjie Zhang . High-efficiency PdNi single-atom alloy catalyst toward cross-coupling reaction. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2024, 35(7): 108924-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2023.108924
20. [20]
  Lingna Wang , Chenxin Tian , Ruobin Dai , Zhiwei Wang . Eco-friendly regeneration of end-of-life PVDF membrane with triethyl phosphate: Efficiency and mechanism. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2024, 35(9): 109356-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2023.109356

Get Citation

PDF

XML

Metrics

PDF Downloads(1)
Abstract views(174)
HTML views(2)

通讯作者: 陈斌, bchen63@163.com

1.
沈阳化工大学材料科学与工程学院沈阳 110142