Multijunction or tandem solar cells can split the spectrum over several subcells with different bandgaps to convert sunlight into electricity more effectively than single-junction cells. The monolithic design of third generation silicon energy materials is auspicious for photovoltaics. In this paper, simulation-based studies copper zinc tin sulfide/silicon (CZTS/Si) based on CZTS as an upper su...

The non-destructive structural characterization of individual grains in thin-films photovoltaics based on polycrystalline materials is a powerful tool for revealing important details the microstructure solar cell absorbers. Here, we use three-dimensional X-ray diffraction (3DXRD) to obtain statistics phase, size, orientation and strain tensors grains, as well their twin relations Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZT...

X- and gamma-ray detectors are increasingly becoming an essential tool for science technology in various fields, including homeland security, nonproliferation, nuclear medical imaging, astrophysics, high energy physics. Cd1−xZnxTe1−ySey (CZTS) is emerging as a next-generation compound semiconductor such applications. CZTS was found to possess very low concentration of Te inclusions free from su...

With high absorption coefficient (104 cm?1), optimal bandgap (~1.5 eV), low toxicity and the abundance of its constituent elements, kesterite (Cu2ZnSnS4 or CZTS) displays properties an ideal photovoltaic material. Kesterite is structurally analogous to chalcopyrite (Cu2InGaS2 CIGS) can thus be produced through already established techniques for synthesis commercial CIGS. Though CIGS- CdTe-based...

To battle the high open-circuit voltage deficit (VOC,def) in kesterite (Cu2ZnSnS4 or CZTS) solar cells, a current field of research relates to point defect engineering by cation substitution. For example, partly replacing Cu with an element larger ionic radius, such as Ag, degree Cu/Zn disorder decreases, and likewise does associated band tailing. In this paper, solution-processed (Ag1-xCux)2Zn...