Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
7938378 | Solar Energy | 2014 | 8 Pages |
Abstract
Intermediate band solar cells (IBSC) have been proposed in order to substantially increase the efficiency of solar cells. A novel intermediate band (IB) photovoltaic material of Ti-substituted CuGaS2 (Ti-CGS2) has been successfully fabricated via a facile solvothermal method. By part substitution of Ga atoms with Ti in the CGS2 chalcopyrite crystal, a narrow partially filled IB was introduced and two additional absorption bands at 710 nm (IB â CBM, 1.75 eV) and 1350 nm (VBM â IB, 0.92 eV) were directly observed in the UV-vis-NIR spectrum. Element Ti, acting as trivalent substituents confirmed by the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), forms an IB from the lowest subshell of its 3d levels. Photoelectrochemical investigations of the Ti-CGS2 verified the wide-spectrum solar response from the IB effect. This material leads to lower-energy photon absorption, which could be a promising candidate for the high-efficiency solar cells.
Keywords
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Physical Sciences and Engineering
Energy
Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
Authors
Xinxin Lv, Sui Yang, Mingwei Li, Hongxing Li, Jie Yi, Minghao Wang, Guanghai Niu, Jianxin Zhong,