Superstrate structured Sb2S3 thin-film solar cells by magnetron sputtering of Sb and post-sulfurization
This study explores the fabrication and optimization of superstrate-structured antimony sulfide (Sb2S3) thin-film solar cells using RF magnetron sputtering of antimony (Sb) followed by sulfurization. The study systematically investigates the effects of varying absorber and buffer layer thicknesses o...
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Elsevier
2025-10-01
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| Series: | Materials & Design |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S026412752501041X |
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| author | Evgeniia Gilshtein Harshvardhan Maheshkant Gupta Andrea Maria Pierri Enevoldsen Cristina Besleaga Aurelian Catalin Galca Stela Canulescu |
| author_facet | Evgeniia Gilshtein Harshvardhan Maheshkant Gupta Andrea Maria Pierri Enevoldsen Cristina Besleaga Aurelian Catalin Galca Stela Canulescu |
| author_sort | Evgeniia Gilshtein |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study explores the fabrication and optimization of superstrate-structured antimony sulfide (Sb2S3) thin-film solar cells using RF magnetron sputtering of antimony (Sb) followed by sulfurization. The study systematically investigates the effects of varying absorber and buffer layer thicknesses on the photovoltaic performance of FTO/CdS/Sb2S3/Spiro-OMeTAD/Au solar cell devices. Analytical techniques confirmed the structural and chemical properties of the Sb2S3 films obtained after Sb post-sulfurization, demonstrating improved crystallinity and a composition consistent with a primarily Sb2S3 phase. Optimizing the Sb2S3 absorber thickness to 100 nm resulted in a maximum power conversion efficiency of the champion device of 2.76%, with enhanced short-circuit current density (Jsc) up to 14 mA/cm2 and open-circuit voltage (Voc) of up to 650 mV. The device exhibited semi-transparency up to 20% in the wavelength range of 380–740 nm, making it suitable for indoor and building-integrated photovoltaic applications. The results underscore the potential of magnetron-sputtered Sb2S3 for emerging transparent thin-film photovoltaics while highlighting the importance of thickness control and interface engineering for efficiency improvements. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-113faaedf19645ebbd424a75e0147bab |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0264-1275 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-10-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Materials & Design |
| spelling | doaj-art-113faaedf19645ebbd424a75e0147bab2025-08-24T05:11:21ZengElsevierMaterials & Design0264-12752025-10-0125811462110.1016/j.matdes.2025.114621Superstrate structured Sb2S3 thin-film solar cells by magnetron sputtering of Sb and post-sulfurizationEvgeniia Gilshtein0Harshvardhan Maheshkant Gupta1Andrea Maria Pierri Enevoldsen2Cristina Besleaga3Aurelian Catalin Galca4Stela Canulescu5Department of Electrical and Photonics Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Roskilde 4000, Denmark; Corresponding author.Department of Electrical and Photonics Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Roskilde 4000, DenmarkDepartment of Electrical and Photonics Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Roskilde 4000, DenmarkLaboratory of Complex Heterostructures and Multifunctional Materials (HeCoMat), National Institute of Materials Physics, Magurele 077125, RomaniaLaboratory of Complex Heterostructures and Multifunctional Materials (HeCoMat), National Institute of Materials Physics, Magurele 077125, Romania; International Center for Advanced Training and Research in Physics, Magurele 077125, RomaniaDepartment of Electrical and Photonics Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Roskilde 4000, DenmarkThis study explores the fabrication and optimization of superstrate-structured antimony sulfide (Sb2S3) thin-film solar cells using RF magnetron sputtering of antimony (Sb) followed by sulfurization. The study systematically investigates the effects of varying absorber and buffer layer thicknesses on the photovoltaic performance of FTO/CdS/Sb2S3/Spiro-OMeTAD/Au solar cell devices. Analytical techniques confirmed the structural and chemical properties of the Sb2S3 films obtained after Sb post-sulfurization, demonstrating improved crystallinity and a composition consistent with a primarily Sb2S3 phase. Optimizing the Sb2S3 absorber thickness to 100 nm resulted in a maximum power conversion efficiency of the champion device of 2.76%, with enhanced short-circuit current density (Jsc) up to 14 mA/cm2 and open-circuit voltage (Voc) of up to 650 mV. The device exhibited semi-transparency up to 20% in the wavelength range of 380–740 nm, making it suitable for indoor and building-integrated photovoltaic applications. The results underscore the potential of magnetron-sputtered Sb2S3 for emerging transparent thin-film photovoltaics while highlighting the importance of thickness control and interface engineering for efficiency improvements.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S026412752501041XAntimony sulfideThin-film solar cellMagnetron sputteringSemi-transparent PV |
| spellingShingle | Evgeniia Gilshtein Harshvardhan Maheshkant Gupta Andrea Maria Pierri Enevoldsen Cristina Besleaga Aurelian Catalin Galca Stela Canulescu Superstrate structured Sb2S3 thin-film solar cells by magnetron sputtering of Sb and post-sulfurization Materials & Design Antimony sulfide Thin-film solar cell Magnetron sputtering Semi-transparent PV |
| title | Superstrate structured Sb2S3 thin-film solar cells by magnetron sputtering of Sb and post-sulfurization |
| title_full | Superstrate structured Sb2S3 thin-film solar cells by magnetron sputtering of Sb and post-sulfurization |
| title_fullStr | Superstrate structured Sb2S3 thin-film solar cells by magnetron sputtering of Sb and post-sulfurization |
| title_full_unstemmed | Superstrate structured Sb2S3 thin-film solar cells by magnetron sputtering of Sb and post-sulfurization |
| title_short | Superstrate structured Sb2S3 thin-film solar cells by magnetron sputtering of Sb and post-sulfurization |
| title_sort | superstrate structured sb2s3 thin film solar cells by magnetron sputtering of sb and post sulfurization |
| topic | Antimony sulfide Thin-film solar cell Magnetron sputtering Semi-transparent PV |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S026412752501041X |
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