Electrodeposition of Antimony Selenide Thin Films and Application in Semiconductor Sensitized Solar Cells

• DOI: 10.1021/am405416a
• Publication Date: 2014-01-17T14:40:19Z
• Authors: T. Tuyen Ngo; Sudam Chavhan; Ivet Kosta; Oscar Miguel; Hans-Jurgen Grande; Ramón Tena-Zaera
• Keywords: Photocurrent

Sb2Se3 thin films are proposed as an alternative light harvester for semiconductor sensitized solar cells. An innovative electrodeposition route, based on aqueous alkaline electrolytes, is presented to obtain amorphous Sb2Se3. The crystalline phase transition takes place during a soft thermal annealing in Ar atmosphere. potential of the electrodeposited cells evaluated by preparing TiO2/Sb2Se3/CuSCN planar heterojunction resulting devices generate electricity from visible and NIR photons, exhibiting external quantum efficiency onset close 1050 nm. Although architecture not optimized terms charge carrier collection, photocurrent high 18 mA/cm2, under simulated (AM1.5G) light, achieved. Furthermore, effect thickness microstructural properties analyzed, suggesting hole transport main limiting mechanism. present findings provide significant insights design efficient advanced architectures (e.g., nanostructured tandem), opening wide possibilities progresses this emerging photovoltaics technology.