First Principles Identification of Quaternary Chalcogenide Based Solar Absorber Materials

Abstract

The future generation thin film solar cells should contain new technological concepts and/or novel materials that can generate electricity from sunlight with higher efficiency and/or less expensive. Taking the advantages of cost-effectiveness, low toxicity and earth abundant elements, the family of quaternary semiconducting chalcogenides has been considered as most monetary materials for producing solar electricity. Nevertheless, the band gap adjustment, antisite defects, competitive secondary phases and the complex microstructure limit their Power Conversion Efficiency (PCE). At this point, the urgency for the design and synthesis of feasible and affordable solar absorber materials remains open newline