Atomistic insights into the order-disorder transition in Cu 2 ZnSnS 4 solar cells from Monte Carlo simulations

Suzanne K. Wallace, Jarvist Moore Frost, Aron Walsh

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

22 Scopus citations

Abstract

Kesterite-structured Cu 2 ZnSnS 4 (CZTS) is an earth-abundant and non-toxic semiconductor that is being studied for use as the absorber layer in thin-film solar cells. Currently, the power-conversion efficiencies of this technology fall short of the requirements for commercialisation. Disorder in the Cu-Zn sub-lattice has been observed and is proposed as one explanation for the shortcomings of CZTS solar cells. Cation site disorder averaged over a macroscopic sample does not provide insights into the microscopic cation distribution that will interact with photogenerated electrons and holes. To provide atomistic insight into Cu/Zn disorder, we have developed a Monte Carlo (MC) model based on pairwise electrostatic interactions. Substitutional disorder amongst Cu and Zn ions in Cu-Zn (001) planes on the 2c and 2d Wyckoff sites-2D disorder-has been proposed as the dominant form of Cu/Zn disorder in near-stoichiometric crystals. We use our model to study the Cu/Zn order-disorder transition in 2D but also allow Zn to substitute onto the Cu 2a site-3D disorder-including Cu-Sn (001) planes. We find that defects are less concentrated in Cu-Sn (001) planes but that Zn ions readily substitute onto the Cu 2a site and that the critical temperature is lowered for 3D disorder.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)312-321
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of Materials Chemistry A
Volume7
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 2019

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 The Royal Society of Chemistry.

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