Approaching the Theoretical Efficiency of Kesterite Solar Cells: Analysis of Radiative and Non-Radiative Losses in Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4

Approaching the Theoretical Efficiency of Kesterite Solar Cells: Analysis of Radiative and Non-Radiative Losses in Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Analysis Approaching the Theoretical Efficiency of Kesterite Solar Cells: Analysis of Radiative and Non-Radiative Losses in Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 Lydia Wong, Shreyash Hadke, Zhenghua Su, Qingbo Meng, Hao Xin, and 3 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-5136540/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Cu 2 ZnSn(S,Se) 4 is among the most promising inorganic photoabsorbers for thin film solar cells. Characteristics such as a high absorption coefficient, solution-processability, and earth-abundant constituents highlight its potential for large-scale photovoltaics. However, the photovoltaic performance of Cu 2 ZnSn(S,Se) 4 has so far been hindered by open-circuit voltage losses (ΔV OC ) in the radiative (ΔV OC Rad ) and non-radiative limit (ΔV OC Nrad ), due to sub-bandgap absorption and deep defect states, respectively. Suppressing these two major loss factors could propel Cu 2 ZnSn(S,Se) 4 towards commercial relevance. In the past 2 years, record efficiency approaching 15% has been reported, prompting a renewed interest that the performance-limiting factors have been overcome. In this perspective, we quantify the ΔV OC for the recently reported high power conversion efficiency devices, compare the relevant photovoltaic metrics to previous records, and offer directions for future research. We find that ΔV OC Rad due to bandgap fluctuations and Urbach tails has been suppressed in the recent record devices, with values approaching those for record efficiency Cu(In,Ga)(S,Se) 2 solar cells. However, we also find that the recombination parameter J 0 , which more closely relates to the ΔV OC Nrad , only shows modest improvements compared to previous records, and has values that must be improved by about four to six orders of magnitude to compete with those for Cu(In,Ga)(S,Se) 2 solar cells. The impressive performance gains that have been achieved by suppressing ΔV OC Rad must now be built upon to suppress ΔV OC Nrad . Our analysis points out that the next level of breakthrough in power conversion efficiency will be achieved by reducing the non-radiative recombination due to deep defects in the bulk, and at grain boundaries and interfaces. Physical sciences/Energy science and technology/Renewable energy/Solar energy/Photovoltaics/Solar cells Physical sciences/Materials science/Materials for energy and catalysis/Solar cells Full Text Additional Declarations There is NO Competing Interest. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-5136540","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Analysis","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":358587101,"identity":"b8232855-bfc0-4dac-989e-121bfb45901b","order_by":0,"name":"Lydia 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Characteristics such as a high absorption coefficient, solution-processability, and earth-abundant constituents highlight its potential for large-scale photovoltaics. However, the photovoltaic performance of Cu\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003eZnSn(S,Se)\u003csub\u003e4\u003c/sub\u003e has so far been hindered by open-circuit voltage losses (ΔV\u003csub\u003eOC\u003c/sub\u003e) in the radiative (ΔV\u003csub\u003eOC\u003c/sub\u003e\u003csup\u003eRad\u003c/sup\u003e) and non-radiative limit (ΔV\u003csub\u003eOC\u003c/sub\u003e\u003csup\u003eNrad\u003c/sup\u003e), due to sub-bandgap absorption and deep defect states, respectively. Suppressing these two major loss factors could propel Cu\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003eZnSn(S,Se)\u003csub\u003e4\u003c/sub\u003e towards commercial relevance. In the past 2 years, record efficiency approaching 15% has been reported, prompting a renewed interest that the performance-limiting factors have been overcome. In this perspective, we quantify the ΔV\u003csub\u003eOC\u003c/sub\u003e for the recently reported high power conversion efficiency devices, compare the relevant photovoltaic metrics to previous records, and offer directions for future research. We find that ΔV\u003csub\u003eOC\u003c/sub\u003e\u003csup\u003eRad\u003c/sup\u003e\u003csub\u003e \u003c/sub\u003edue to bandgap fluctuations and Urbach tails has\u003csub\u003e \u003c/sub\u003ebeen suppressed in the recent record devices, with values\u003csub\u003e \u003c/sub\u003eapproaching those for record efficiency Cu(In,Ga)(S,Se)\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003e solar cells. However, we also find that the recombination parameter J\u003csub\u003e0\u003c/sub\u003e, which more closely relates to the ΔV\u003csub\u003eOC\u003c/sub\u003e\u003csup\u003eNrad\u003c/sup\u003e,\u003csup\u003e \u003c/sup\u003eonly\u003csup\u003e \u003c/sup\u003eshows modest improvements compared to previous records, and has values that must be improved by about four to six orders of magnitude to compete with those for Cu(In,Ga)(S,Se)\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003e solar cells. The impressive performance gains that have been achieved by suppressing ΔV\u003csub\u003eOC\u003c/sub\u003e\u003csup\u003eRad\u003c/sup\u003e\u003csub\u003e \u003c/sub\u003emust now be built upon to suppress ΔV\u003csub\u003eOC\u003c/sub\u003e\u003csup\u003eNrad\u003c/sup\u003e. Our analysis points out that the next level of breakthrough in power conversion efficiency will be achieved by reducing the non-radiative recombination due to deep defects in the bulk, and at grain boundaries and interfaces.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Approaching the Theoretical Efficiency of Kesterite Solar Cells: Analysis of Radiative and Non-Radiative Losses in Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2024-09-26 07:28:40","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-5136540/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"8d0144de-15d0-4528-a38d-ccaa05a7db9c","owner":[],"postedDate":"September 26th, 2024","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"posted","subjectAreas":[{"id":38152977,"name":"Physical sciences/Energy science and technology/Renewable energy/Solar energy/Photovoltaics/Solar cells"},{"id":38152978,"name":"Physical sciences/Materials science/Materials for energy and catalysis/Solar cells"}],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2024-12-10T09:25:11+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2024-09-26 07:28:40","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-5136540","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-5136540","identity":"rs-5136540","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"qtupq5eGEP_6zYnWcrvyt","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}