Highly efficient narrow bandgap Cu(In,Ga)Se2 solar cells with enhanced open circuit voltage for tandem application

Abstract Although an ideal bandgap matching with 0.96 eV and 1.62 eV for a double-junction tandem is hard to realize practically, among all mature photovoltaic systems, Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGSe) can provide the closest bandgap of 1.00 eV for the bottom sub-cell by adjusting its composition. However, pure...

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Main Authors: Junjun Zhang, Zengyang Ma, Yitian Zhang, Xinxing Liu, Ruiming Li, Qianqian Lin, Guojia Fang, Xue Zheng, Weimin Li, Chunlei Yang, Jianmin Li, Junbo Gong, Xudong Xiao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2024-11-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-54818-6
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author Junjun Zhang
Zengyang Ma
Yitian Zhang
Xinxing Liu
Ruiming Li
Qianqian Lin
Guojia Fang
Xue Zheng
Weimin Li
Chunlei Yang
Jianmin Li
Junbo Gong
Xudong Xiao
author_facet Junjun Zhang
Zengyang Ma
Yitian Zhang
Xinxing Liu
Ruiming Li
Qianqian Lin
Guojia Fang
Xue Zheng
Weimin Li
Chunlei Yang
Jianmin Li
Junbo Gong
Xudong Xiao
author_sort Junjun Zhang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Although an ideal bandgap matching with 0.96 eV and 1.62 eV for a double-junction tandem is hard to realize practically, among all mature photovoltaic systems, Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGSe) can provide the closest bandgap of 1.00 eV for the bottom sub-cell by adjusting its composition. However, pure CuInSe2 (CISe) solar cell suffers strong interfacial carrier recombination. We hereby present approaches to introduce appropriate Ga gradients in both the back and front parts of absorber while maintaining the absorption spectrum close to CISe. With an appropriate front Ga gradient, the open circuit voltage can be enhanced by ~30 mV. With a pre-deposited CIGSe layer and a high copper excess deposition during absorber growth, the Ga diffusion can be well suppressed and a wide U-shaped Ga grading with a minimum bandgap of 1.01 eV has been created. Our optimized narrow-bandgap CIGSe solar cell has achieved a certified record PCE of 20.26%, with a record-low open circuit voltage deficit of 368 mV and a record-high contribution of 10% absolute efficiency to a four-terminal tandem. This work demonstrates the potential of controlling gallium diffusion to improve the performance of narrow bandgap CIGSe solar cells for tandem applications.
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spelling doaj-art-a2de8472f2dd4d95818fcda55d5fab8a2025-08-20T02:08:23ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232024-11-0115111110.1038/s41467-024-54818-6Highly efficient narrow bandgap Cu(In,Ga)Se2 solar cells with enhanced open circuit voltage for tandem applicationJunjun Zhang0Zengyang Ma1Yitian Zhang2Xinxing Liu3Ruiming Li4Qianqian Lin5Guojia Fang6Xue Zheng7Weimin Li8Chunlei Yang9Jianmin Li10Junbo Gong11Xudong Xiao12School of Physics and Technology, and Key Laboratory of Artificial Micro- and Nano-structures of Ministry of Education, Wuhan UniversitySchool of Physics and Technology, and Key Laboratory of Artificial Micro- and Nano-structures of Ministry of Education, Wuhan UniversitySchool of Physics and Technology, and Key Laboratory of Artificial Micro- and Nano-structures of Ministry of Education, Wuhan UniversitySchool of Physics and Technology, and Key Laboratory of Artificial Micro- and Nano-structures of Ministry of Education, Wuhan UniversitySchool of Physics and Technology, and Key Laboratory of Artificial Micro- and Nano-structures of Ministry of Education, Wuhan UniversitySchool of Physics and Technology, and Key Laboratory of Artificial Micro- and Nano-structures of Ministry of Education, Wuhan UniversitySchool of Physics and Technology, and Key Laboratory of Artificial Micro- and Nano-structures of Ministry of Education, Wuhan UniversityShenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of SciencesShenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of SciencesShenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of SciencesSchool of Physics and Technology, and Key Laboratory of Artificial Micro- and Nano-structures of Ministry of Education, Wuhan UniversitySchool of Physics and Technology, and Key Laboratory of Artificial Micro- and Nano-structures of Ministry of Education, Wuhan UniversitySchool of Physics and Technology, and Key Laboratory of Artificial Micro- and Nano-structures of Ministry of Education, Wuhan UniversityAbstract Although an ideal bandgap matching with 0.96 eV and 1.62 eV for a double-junction tandem is hard to realize practically, among all mature photovoltaic systems, Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGSe) can provide the closest bandgap of 1.00 eV for the bottom sub-cell by adjusting its composition. However, pure CuInSe2 (CISe) solar cell suffers strong interfacial carrier recombination. We hereby present approaches to introduce appropriate Ga gradients in both the back and front parts of absorber while maintaining the absorption spectrum close to CISe. With an appropriate front Ga gradient, the open circuit voltage can be enhanced by ~30 mV. With a pre-deposited CIGSe layer and a high copper excess deposition during absorber growth, the Ga diffusion can be well suppressed and a wide U-shaped Ga grading with a minimum bandgap of 1.01 eV has been created. Our optimized narrow-bandgap CIGSe solar cell has achieved a certified record PCE of 20.26%, with a record-low open circuit voltage deficit of 368 mV and a record-high contribution of 10% absolute efficiency to a four-terminal tandem. This work demonstrates the potential of controlling gallium diffusion to improve the performance of narrow bandgap CIGSe solar cells for tandem applications.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-54818-6
spellingShingle Junjun Zhang
Zengyang Ma
Yitian Zhang
Xinxing Liu
Ruiming Li
Qianqian Lin
Guojia Fang
Xue Zheng
Weimin Li
Chunlei Yang
Jianmin Li
Junbo Gong
Xudong Xiao
Highly efficient narrow bandgap Cu(In,Ga)Se2 solar cells with enhanced open circuit voltage for tandem application
Nature Communications
title Highly efficient narrow bandgap Cu(In,Ga)Se2 solar cells with enhanced open circuit voltage for tandem application
title_full Highly efficient narrow bandgap Cu(In,Ga)Se2 solar cells with enhanced open circuit voltage for tandem application
title_fullStr Highly efficient narrow bandgap Cu(In,Ga)Se2 solar cells with enhanced open circuit voltage for tandem application
title_full_unstemmed Highly efficient narrow bandgap Cu(In,Ga)Se2 solar cells with enhanced open circuit voltage for tandem application
title_short Highly efficient narrow bandgap Cu(In,Ga)Se2 solar cells with enhanced open circuit voltage for tandem application
title_sort highly efficient narrow bandgap cu in ga se2 solar cells with enhanced open circuit voltage for tandem application
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-54818-6
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