Simulation and experimental investigation of thin-film chalcogenide semiconductors for photovoltaic applications

Abstract

This thesis presents a comprehensive study on the optimization and characterization of chalcogenide-based thin films, specifically focusing on the development and enhancement of absorber layers for high-efficiency photovoltaic devices. Chalcogenide materials, particularly those based on copper, tin, germanium, and sulfur/selenium (CTGSSe), hold significant promise in the field of thin-film solar cells due to their tuneable bandgap, high absorption coefficients, and abundance of constituent elements. This work delves into the effects of deposition parameters, such as substrate temperature (Tsub) and sulfurization processes, on the compositional, electrical, and optical properties of CTGSSe and Sb2S3 thin films. The initial phase of the research involved the deposition of molybdenum (Mo) thin films on soda-lime glass (SLG) substrates using a direct current (DC) magnetron sputtering system. The deposition parameters, including power and working pressure, were varied to achieve low-resistivity Mo films with good adhesion to the substrate.