Segregation of Cu-In-S Elements in the Spray-Pyrolysis-Deposited Layer of CIS Solar Cells

Abstract

We report the fabrication of superstrate-structured solar cells by the deposition of Cu-In-S (CIS) films on〈glass/FTO/TiO2/In2S3〉under air by spray pyrolysis. The cells had an open-circuit voltage of 0.551 V, a photocurrent density of 9.5 mA/cm2, a fill factor of 0.45, and a conversion efficiency of 2.14%. However, transmission electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-ray (TEM-EDX) analysis revealed significant differences between the atomic ratio of the setting material in the spray-deposition solution and the elements in the layer. Moreover, TEM-EDX measurements suggested strong segregation of the Cu-In-S elements in the spray-pyrolysis-deposited layer. The degree of segregation depended on the substrate (〈glass〉,〈glass/TiO2〉, or〈glass/TiO2/In2S3〉), although Cu3In5S9nanoparticles were segregated in the sulfur layer.