The Eu-doped Cu(In, Eu)Te2 semiconductors with chalcopyrite structures are promising materials for their applications in the absorption layer for thin-film solar cells due to their wider band-gaps and better optical...The Eu-doped Cu(In, Eu)Te2 semiconductors with chalcopyrite structures are promising materials for their applications in the absorption layer for thin-film solar cells due to their wider band-gaps and better optical properties than those of CuInTe2. In this paper, the Eu-doped CuInTe2 (CuIn1-xEuxTe2, x = 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3) are studied systemically based on the empirical electron theory (EET). The studies cover crystal structures, bonding regularities, cohesive energies, energy levels, and valence electron structures. The theoretical values fit the experimental results very well. The physical mechanism of a broadened band-gap induced by Eu doping into CuInTe2 is the transitions between different hybridization energy levels induced by electron hopping between s and d orbitals and the transformations from the lattice electrons to valence electrons for Cu and In ions. The research results reveal that the photovoltaic effect induces the increase of lattice electrons of In and causes the electric resistivity to decrease. The Eu doping into CuInTe2 mainly influences the transition between different hybridization energy levels for Cu atoms, which shows that the 3d electron numbers of Cu atoms change before and after Eu doping. In single phase CuIn1-xEuxTe2, the number of valence electrons changes regularly with increasing Eu content, and the calculated band gap Eg also increases, which implies that the optical properties of Eu-doped CuIn1-xEuxTe2 are improved.展开更多
In order to achieve low cost high efficiency thin film solar cells,a novel Semiconductor Photovoltaic (PV) active material CuIn 1-x Ga x Se 2 (CIGS) and thin film Electro Deposition (ED) technology is explored.Firstly...In order to achieve low cost high efficiency thin film solar cells,a novel Semiconductor Photovoltaic (PV) active material CuIn 1-x Ga x Se 2 (CIGS) and thin film Electro Deposition (ED) technology is explored.Firstly,the PV materials and technologies is investigated,then the detailed experimental processes of CIGS/Mo/glass structure by using the novel ED technology and the results are reported.These results shows that high quality CIGS polycrystalline thin films can be obtained by the ED method,in which the polycrystalline CIGS is definitely identified by the (112),(204,220) characteristic peaks of the tetragonal structure,the continuous CIGS thin film layers with particle average size of about 2μm of length and around 1 6μm of thickness.The thickness and solar grade quality of CIGS thin films can be produced with good repeatability.Discussion and analysis on the ED technique,CIGS energy band and sodium (Na) impurity properties,were also performed.The alloy CIGS exhibits not only increasing band gap with increasing x ,but also a change in material properties that is relevant to the device operation.The beneficial impurity Na originating from the low cost soda lime glass substrate becomes one prerequisite for high quality CIGS films.These novel material and technology are very useful for low cost high efficiency thin film solar cells and other devices.展开更多
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.1 1274110)
文摘The Eu-doped Cu(In, Eu)Te2 semiconductors with chalcopyrite structures are promising materials for their applications in the absorption layer for thin-film solar cells due to their wider band-gaps and better optical properties than those of CuInTe2. In this paper, the Eu-doped CuInTe2 (CuIn1-xEuxTe2, x = 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3) are studied systemically based on the empirical electron theory (EET). The studies cover crystal structures, bonding regularities, cohesive energies, energy levels, and valence electron structures. The theoretical values fit the experimental results very well. The physical mechanism of a broadened band-gap induced by Eu doping into CuInTe2 is the transitions between different hybridization energy levels induced by electron hopping between s and d orbitals and the transformations from the lattice electrons to valence electrons for Cu and In ions. The research results reveal that the photovoltaic effect induces the increase of lattice electrons of In and causes the electric resistivity to decrease. The Eu doping into CuInTe2 mainly influences the transition between different hybridization energy levels for Cu atoms, which shows that the 3d electron numbers of Cu atoms change before and after Eu doping. In single phase CuIn1-xEuxTe2, the number of valence electrons changes regularly with increasing Eu content, and the calculated band gap Eg also increases, which implies that the optical properties of Eu-doped CuIn1-xEuxTe2 are improved.
基金Project Supported by the Innovation and Technology Fund ( ITF ) of The Government of The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region ( HK-SAR)China( Fund Grant Num ber:S/ P0 0 5 / 99)
文摘In order to achieve low cost high efficiency thin film solar cells,a novel Semiconductor Photovoltaic (PV) active material CuIn 1-x Ga x Se 2 (CIGS) and thin film Electro Deposition (ED) technology is explored.Firstly,the PV materials and technologies is investigated,then the detailed experimental processes of CIGS/Mo/glass structure by using the novel ED technology and the results are reported.These results shows that high quality CIGS polycrystalline thin films can be obtained by the ED method,in which the polycrystalline CIGS is definitely identified by the (112),(204,220) characteristic peaks of the tetragonal structure,the continuous CIGS thin film layers with particle average size of about 2μm of length and around 1 6μm of thickness.The thickness and solar grade quality of CIGS thin films can be produced with good repeatability.Discussion and analysis on the ED technique,CIGS energy band and sodium (Na) impurity properties,were also performed.The alloy CIGS exhibits not only increasing band gap with increasing x ,but also a change in material properties that is relevant to the device operation.The beneficial impurity Na originating from the low cost soda lime glass substrate becomes one prerequisite for high quality CIGS films.These novel material and technology are very useful for low cost high efficiency thin film solar cells and other devices.