Wide Bandgap Sb2S3 Solar Cells

• Published in: Advanced functional materials Vol. 31; no. 27
• Main Authors: Shah, Usman Ali, Chen, Shiwu, Khalaf, Gomaa Mohamed Gomaa, Jin, Zhixin, Song, Haisheng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.07.2021
• Subjects: Absorbers; Energy conversion efficiency; Energy gap; Literature reviews; loss mechanism; Materials science; Photovoltaic cells; power conversion efficiency; Sb 2S 3; Shockley–Queisser limit; Silicon; Solar cells; tandem solar cells; thin film quality
• ISSN: 1616-301X; 1616-3028
• DOI: 10.1002/adfm.202100265

The wide bandgap Sb2S3 is considered to be one of the most promising absorber layers in single‐junction solar cells and a suitable top‐cell candidate for multi‐junction (tandem) solar cells. However, compared to mature thin‐film technologies, Sb2S3 based thin‐film solar cells are still lagging behind in the power conversion efficiency race, and the highest of just 7.5% has been achieved to date in a sensitized single‐junction structure. Furthermore, to break single junction solar cell based Shockley–Queisser (S–Q) limits, tandem devices with wide bandgap top‐cells and low bandgap bottom‐cells hold a high potential for efficient light conversion. Though matured and desirable bottom‐cell candidates like silicon (Si) are available, the corresponding mature wide bandgap top‐cell candidates are still lacking. Hence, a literature review based on Sb2S3 solar cells is urgently warranted. In this review, the progress and present status of Sb2S3 solar cells are summarized. An emphasis is placed mainly on the improvement of absorber quality and device performance. Moreover, the low‐performance causes and possible overcoming mechanisms are also explained. Last but not least, the potential and feasibility of Sb2S3 in tandem devices are vividly discussed. In the end, several strategies and perspectives for future research are outlined. This review summarizes the progress that has been reported to date for low‐cost, non‐toxic, and wide‐bandgap Sb2S3 thin film solar cells. The significant breakthroughs achieved in improving the absorber quality and device performance have been comprehensively collected and analyzed. The critical challenges, possible strategies, high potential as a top‐cell candidate in tandem devices, and future perspectives are vividly discussed.