Recent progress in the research on using CuSbS<sub>2</sub> and its derivative CuPbSbS<sub>3</sub> as absorbers in case of photovoltaic devices

doi:10.1007/s12200-020-1024-0

Front. Optoelectron.

2021, Vol. 14

Issue (4) : 450-458 https://doi.org/10.1007/s12200-020-1024-0

REVIEW ARTICLE

Recent progress in the research on using CuSbS₂ and its derivative CuPbSbS₃ as absorbers in case of photovoltaic devices

Muyi ZHANG^1,², Chong WANG¹, Chao CHEN¹(

), Jiang TANG^1,^2,³

¹. Sargent Joint Research Center, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
². China-EU Institute for Clean and Renewable Energy, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
³. School of Optical and Electronic Information, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China

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Abstract

Thin-film solar cells show considerable application potential as alternative photovoltaic technologies. Cuprous antimony chalcogen materials and their derivatives, represented as CuSbS₂ and CuPbSbS₃, respectively, exhibit the advantages of low cost, massive elemental abundance, stability, and good photoelectric properties, including a suitable bandgap and large optical absorption coefficient. These advantages demonstrate that they can be used as light absorbers in photovoltaic applications. In this study, we review the major properties, fabrication methods, and recent progress of the performance of the devices containing CuSbS₂ and CuPbSbS₃. Furthermore, the limitations and future development prospects with respect to the CuSbS₂ and CuPbSbS₃ solar cells are discussed.

Keywords CuSbS₂ CuPbSbS₃ properties fabrication performance

Corresponding Author(s): Chao CHEN

Just Accepted Date: 02 April 2020 Online First Date: 21 May 2020 Issue Date: 06 December 2021

Cite this article:

Muyi ZHANG,Chong WANG,Chao CHEN, et al. Recent progress in the research on using CuSbS₂ and its derivative CuPbSbS₃ as absorbers in case of photovoltaic devices[J]. Front. Optoelectron., 2021, 14(4): 450-458.

URL:

https://academic.hep.com.cn/foe/EN/10.1007/s12200-020-1024-0
https://academic.hep.com.cn/foe/EN/Y2021/V14/I4/450

Fig.1 Comparison of the elemental abundance versus price

Fig.2 Crystal structures of CuSbS₂ and CuPbSbS₃

Fig.4 (a) and (b) Optical absorption coefficients of CuSbS₂ and CuPbSbS₃, and their linear fittings that are extrapolated to the bandgaps (insets). (c) and (d) UPS spectra of CuSbS₂ and CuPbSbS₃. Insets show the magnified low-energy spectra and their linear fittings [11,13]. Copyright 2014. Reproduced with permission from ACS Publications; copyright 2020. Reproduced with permission from Elsevier

Tab.1 Material and optoelectronic properties of CuSbS₂ and CuPbSbS₃

Fig.6 (a) CuSbS₂ device structure exhibiting the best performance until now. (b) CuPbSbS₃ device structure exhibiting the best performance until now [13,21]. Copyright 2016 and 2020. Reproduced with permission from Elsevier

Tab.2 Fabrication methods and performances of the efficient CuSbS₂ and CuPbSbS₃ devices (PCEs>1.9%) developed since 2014

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