Ordered Nanoscale Heterojunction Architecture for Enhanced Solution-Based CuInGaS2 Thin Film Solar Cell Performance

Nilesh Barange, Van Ben Chu, Minwoo Nam, In Hwan Ahn, Young Dong Kim, Il Ki Han, Byoung Koun Min, Doo Hyun Ko

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

9 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Nanopatterned CuInGaS2 (CIGS) thin films synthesized by a sol-gel-based solution method and a nanoimprint lithography technique to achieve simultaneous photonic and electrical enhancements in thin film solar cell applications are demonstrated. The interdigitated CIGS nanopatterns in adjacent CdS layer form an ordered nanoscale heterojunction of optical contrast to create a light trapping architecture. This architecture concomitantly leads to increased junction area between the p-CIGS/n-CdS interface, and thereby influences effective charge transport. The electron beam induced current and capacitance–voltage characterization further supports the large carrier collection area and small depletion region of the nanopatterned CIGS solar cell devices. This strategic geometry affords localization of incident light inside and between the nanopatterns, where created excitons are easily dissociated, and it leads to the enhanced current generation of absorbed light. Ultimately, this approach improves the efficiency of the nanopatterned CIGS solar cell by 55% compared to its planar counterpart, and offers the possibility of simultaneous management for absorption and charge transport through a nanopatterning process.

Original languageEnglish
Article number1601114
JournalAdvanced Energy Materials
Volume6
Issue number24
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2016 Dec 21

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
N.B. and V.B.C. contributed equally to this work. This work was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Korea government (No. 2016R1C1B2014644), and a grant from Kyung Hee University in 2015 (KHU-20150515), and it was also supported by the Energy Technology Development Program of the Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning (KETEP) grant (Nos. 20143030011530 and 2015030012870) funded by the Korean government. This research was also partly supported by the Pioneer Research Center Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea, which was funded by the Ministry of Science, ICT, and Future Planning (No. 2016M3C1A3909138) and it was supported by Nanomaterial Technology Development Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning. (2009-0082580).

Publisher Copyright:
© 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim

Keywords

  • CuInGaS (CIGS) solar cells
  • imprint
  • nanopatterning
  • optical and electrical management
  • solution process

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
  • Materials Science(all)

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