Magnetic field- and pressure- optical effects in CuInSe2, CuGaSe2 and CuInS2
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Strathclyde
Department Name: Physics
Abstract
The development of improved sources of renewable energy is of extreme importance in order to reduce dependence on fossil fuels. Solar energy leads the way as the most environmentally friendly and abundant of such resources since the Sun transmits to the earth surface an amount of energy 100,000 times greater than present world energy consumption. A range of materials are employed for solar cells and here we propose work on chalcopyrite semiconductors which offer particular advantages, namely (1) extremely high absorption coefficients, higher than any other known semiconductor (2) energy gaps close to the optimal values for terrestrial and space conditions (3) robustness and relative insensitivity to irradiation by both high energy protons and electrons as a result of efficient self-healing mechanisms at room temperature. The materials to be studied are CuInSe2, CuGaSe2 and CuInS2 semiconductors as are currently used in the absorber layer of solar cells which hold record conversion efficiencies for thin-film photovoltaic devices (19% for Cu(InGa)Se2- photovoltaic devices and 12% for CuInS2-based ones) and demonstrate superior stability when compared to any other thin-film solar cell. The band-gap of CuInS2 (Eg ~ 1.53 eV) almost ideally matches the solar spectrum whereas in CuInSe2-based cells the optimum efficiency is achieved by alloying CuInSe2 (Eg ~ 1.05 eV) and CuGaSe2 (Eg ~ 1.68 eV). Progress so far with Cu(InGa)(SSe)2-based technologies has mostly been attained using scientific intuition rather than knowledge-based design. Here we propose to use optical spectroscopy, in the presence of magnetic fields and high pressure, to improve the understanding of these materials and apply this to the deveopment of improved solar cells.
Publications
Yakushev M
(2011)
Excited States of the A and B Free Excitons in CuInSe 2
in Japanese Journal of Applied Physics
Yakushev M
(2009)
Diamagnetic shifts of free excitons in CuInS2 in magnetic fields
in Applied Physics Letters
Yakushev M
(2009)
Temperature dependence of excitonic emission in CuInSe 2
in physica status solidi c
Yakushev M
(2010)
Excited states of the free excitons in CuInSe2 single crystals
in Applied Physics Letters
Yakushev M
(2009)
Effects of magnetic fields on free excitons in CuInSe 2
in physica status solidi c
Zachmann H
(2011)
Fabrication and characterisation of Cu(In,Ga)Se2 solar cells on polyimide
in Thin Solid Films
Zachmann H
(2009)
Characterisation of Cu(In,Ga)Se2-based thin film solar cells on polyimide
in Thin Solid Films
Description | REP in place to work with SemiMetrics Ltd. |
Sector | Economic |
Impact Types | Economic |
Description | EuroMagNET |
Amount | £30,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | SC 3410 |
Organisation | Euromagnet |
Sector | Private |
Country | Romania |
Start |
Description | EuroMagNET |
Amount | £30,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | SC 1109 |
Organisation | Euromagnet |
Sector | Private |
Country | Romania |
Start |
Description | Helmholtz Zentrum Berlin fur materialien |
Amount | £100,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | 2010_1_91235 |
Organisation | Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres |
Department | Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin for Materials and Energy |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | Germany |
Start |
Description | Theme leader for SUPA Condensed Matter and Materials |
Organisation | The Scottish Universities Physics Alliance (SUPA) |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Chair : Membership of external research organisation : Theme leader for SUPA Condensed Matter and Materials |
Start Year | 2008 |
Description | Theme leader for SUPA Condensed Matter and Materials |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
Results and Impact | Chair : Membership of external research organisation : Theme leader for SUPA Condensed Matter and Materials. Not recorded |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2008 |