KCN Chemical Etching of van der Waals SbSe Thin Films Synthesized at Low Temperature Leads to Inverted Surface Polarity and Improved Solar Cell Efficiency.

Recent developments in SbSe van der Waals material as an absorber candidate for thin film photovoltaic applications have demonstrated the importance of surface management for improving the conversion efficiency of this technology. SbSe thin films' versatility in delivering good efficiencies in both superstrate and substrate configurations, coupled with a compatibility with various low-temperature deposition techniques (below 500 °C and often below 350 °C), makes them highly attractive for advanced photovoltaic applications. This study presents a comparative analysis of the most effective chemical etchings developed for related thin film chalcogenide technologies to identify and understand the most appropriate surface chemical treatments for SbSe in substrate configuration, synthesized using a sequential process at very low temperatures (320 °C).

Effects of Deposition Temperature and Working Pressure on the Thermal and Nanomechanical Performances of Stoichiometric CuN: An Adaptable Material for Photovoltaic Applications.

The pursuit of efficient, profitable, and ecofriendly materials has defined solar cell research from its inception to today. Some materials, such as copper nitride (CuN), show great promise for promoting sustainable solar technologies. This study employed reactive radio-frequency magnetron sputtering using a pure nitrogen environment to fabricate quality CuN thin films to evaluate how both temperature and gas working pressure affect their solar absorption capabilities.

Elimination of Interface Energy Barriers Using Dendrimer Polyelectrolytes with Fractal Geometry.

In this work we study conjugated polyelectrolyte (CPE) films based on polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers of generations G1 and G3. These fractal macromolecules are compared to branched polyethylenimine (b-PEI) polymer using methanol as the solvent. All of these materials present a high density of amino groups, which protonated by methoxide counter-anions create strong dipolar interfaces.

Poly(amidoamine) Dendrimer as an Interfacial Dipole Modification in Crystalline Silicon Solar Cells.

Poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimers are used to modify the interface of metal-semiconductor junctions. The large number of protonated amines contributes to the formation of a dipole layer, which finally serves to form electron-selective contacts in silicon heterojunction solar cells. By modification of the work function of the contacts, the addition of the PAMAM dendrimer interlayer quenches Fermi level pinning, thus creating an ohmic contact between the metal and the semiconductor.

Does SbSe Admit Nonstoichiometric Conditions? How Modifying the Overall Se Content Affects the Structural, Optical, and Optoelectronic Properties of SbSe Thin Films.

SbSe is a quasi-one-dimensional (1D) semiconductor, which has shown great promise in photovoltaics. However, its performance is currently limited by a high deficit. Therefore, it is necessary to explore new strategies to minimize the formation of intrinsic defects and thus unlock the absorber's whole potential.