TY - JOUR
T1 - CZTS based thin film solar cells
T2 - A status review
AU - Suryawanshi, M. P.
AU - Agawane, G. L.
AU - Bhosale, S. M.
AU - Shin, S. W.
AU - Patil, P. S.
AU - Kim, J. H.
AU - Moholkar, A. V.
PY - 2013/6/14
Y1 - 2013/6/14
N2 - Today's thin film photovoltaic technologies comprising CuInS2 (CIS), CuInGaSe2 (CIGS) and CdTe rely on elements that are costly and rare in the earth's crust (e.g. In, Ga, Te) and are toxic (e.g. Cd). Hence, in future cost reduction and increased production, using abundantly available non-toxic elements, seem to be the main issues. Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS), having the kesterite structure, is one of the most promising absorber layer candidates for low cost thin film solar cells, because of its suitable direct band gap between 1·4 and 1·5 eV and large absorption coefficient, over 104 cm-1. Also it is composed of earth abundant and non-toxic elements, promising price reductions in future. Recently, research in this area has gained momentum due to the desirability of producing Ga, In and Cd free absorber layers and the potential to obtain new insights. Hence, a review of recent literature is urgently warranted. The CZTS progress and present status of CZTS thin film solar cells has been reviewed, with the hope of identifying new paths for productive research.
AB - Today's thin film photovoltaic technologies comprising CuInS2 (CIS), CuInGaSe2 (CIGS) and CdTe rely on elements that are costly and rare in the earth's crust (e.g. In, Ga, Te) and are toxic (e.g. Cd). Hence, in future cost reduction and increased production, using abundantly available non-toxic elements, seem to be the main issues. Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS), having the kesterite structure, is one of the most promising absorber layer candidates for low cost thin film solar cells, because of its suitable direct band gap between 1·4 and 1·5 eV and large absorption coefficient, over 104 cm-1. Also it is composed of earth abundant and non-toxic elements, promising price reductions in future. Recently, research in this area has gained momentum due to the desirability of producing Ga, In and Cd free absorber layers and the potential to obtain new insights. Hence, a review of recent literature is urgently warranted. The CZTS progress and present status of CZTS thin film solar cells has been reviewed, with the hope of identifying new paths for productive research.
KW - Absorber layer
KW - CZTS thin film solar cells
KW - Conversion efficiency
KW - CuZnSnS
KW - Optical absorption coefficient
KW - Vacuum and non-vacuum based approaches
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M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84878795773
SN - 1748-9237
VL - 8
SP - 98
EP - 109
JO - Energy Materials: Materials Science and Engineering for Energy Systems
JF - Energy Materials: Materials Science and Engineering for Energy Systems
IS - 1
ER -
