Electrodeposition of CIGS Thin Film with Special Structure Using Laser Etching Template

Authors

Jin-zhi YU, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, Heilongjiang, China;
Ye LIAN, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, Heilongjiang, China;
Jin-qiu ZHANG, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, Heilongjiang, China;
Pei-xia YANG, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, Heilongjiang, China;
Mao-zhong AN, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, Heilongjiang, China;Follow

Corresponding Author

Mao-zhong AN(mzan@hit.edu.cn)

Abstract

Copper indium gallium selenide (Cu_1.00In_xGa_1-xSe_2.00, CIGS) thin film solar cells have a wide application in semiconductor thin film batteries. The CIGS absorbing layer is the key of the thin film solar cell material. Therefore, it is of theoretical and practical significance to carry out researches in CIGS thin films. In this work, the CIGS thin films with special structures were prepared by using laser etching template. The copper thin film was firstly electrodeposited in aqueous solution with Laser etching template. The influences of temperature, current and concentration of copper sulfate on morphology and structure of the thin film were studied. The results showed that a hollow steamed bun shape and open bowl structure was formed at the surface of copper thin film electrodeposited at 30 ℃ and at the apparent current density of 4 A·dm^-2 in the aqueous solution with the concentrations of CuSO₄·5H₂O being 20 ~ 50 g·L^-1. The CIGS thin films were electrodeposited by using laser etching template in the ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium trifluoromethanesulfonate ([BMIm][TfO]) - 30 Vol% propyl alcohol mixed electrolyte solution at different deposition potentials, substrates and deposition time. It was demonstrated that the clusters of flowers with approximate columnar CIGS thin film could be prepared at 1.8 V for 1.5 h. Furthermore, the electrodeposition of CIGS thin films was done on the previously electrodeposited copper substrate by Laser etching template. A uniform and orderly spheroidal structure of Cu/CIGS composite film was obtained. The apparent surface area of the Cu/CIGS composite film, calculated by constant voltage square wave method, was about 8 times larger than that of the CIGS thin film prepared without using template, which greatly enhanced absorption of light on the thin film and increased the output of the carrier. Therefore, it can be expected that the CIGS thin film with globular special structure electrodeposited in ionic liquid by laser etching template may highlight the electric conversion efficiency.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords

electrodeposition, CIGS, laser etching, template, ionic liquid

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.13208/j.electrochem.170446

Publication Date

2018-02-28

Online Available Date

2017-05-08

Revised Date

2017-05-04

Received Date

2017-04-18

Recommended Citation

Jin-zhi YU, Ye LIAN, Jin-qiu ZHANG, Pei-xia YANG, Mao-zhong AN. Electrodeposition of CIGS Thin Film with Special Structure Using Laser Etching Template[J]. Journal of Electrochemistry, 2018 , 24(1): 4-12.
DOI: 10.13208/j.electrochem.170446
Available at: https://jelectrochem.xmu.edu.cn/journal/vol24/iss1/2

References

[1]Shen H(沈辉), Liu Y(刘勇), Xu X(徐雪). Using nanometer materials and solar cells[M]. Beijing(北京): Chemical Industry Press(化学工业出版社), 2012: 3-7.
[2] Li C J(李长健), Qiao Z X(乔在祥), Zhang L(张力). The research progress of Cu(In, Ga)Se₂ thin film solar cells (II)[J]. Jounal of Power Source Technology(电源技术), 2009, 33(2): 159-164.
[3] Zhang X K(张晓科), Wang K(王可), et al. The research progress of CIS/CIGS chalcopyrite photovoltaic material[J]. Chinese Journal of Rare Metals(稀有金属), 2006, 30(4): 528-533.
[4] Jackson P, Hariskos D, Lotter E, et al. New world record efficiency for Cu (In, Ga) Se₂ thin film solar cells beyond 20%[J]. Progress in Photovoltaics: Research and Applications, 2011, 19(7): 894-897.
[5] Qiu S N, Li L, Qiu C X, et al. Study of CuInSe₂ thin films prepared by electrodeposition[J]. Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, 1995, 37(3/4): 389-393.
[6] Lincot D, Guillemoles J F, Taunier S, et al. Chalcopyrite thin film solar cells by electrodeposition[J]. Solar Energy, 2004, 77(6): 725-737.
[7] Shivagan D D, Dale P J, Samantilleke A P, et al. Electrodeposition of chalcopyrite films from ionic liquid electrolytes[J]. Thin Solid Films, 2007, 515(15): 5899-5903.
[8] Ji S S, Mei Y X, Zhang J Q, et al. Fabrication of CuIn_xGa_1-xSe₂ thin films via electrodeposition method with ionic liquid electrolytes[J]. Chinese Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, 2014, 30(2): 466-472.
[9] Park S H, Roy A, Beaupre S, et al. Bulk heterojunction solar cells with internal quantum efficiency approaching 100%[J]. Nature Photonics, 2009, 3(5): 297-302.
[10] Zhang X C(张星辰). Ionic liquid-from the theoretical basis to research progress[M]. Beijing: Chemical Industry Press(化学工业出版社). 2009: 24-36.
[11] An M Z(安茂忠). Plating theory and technology[M]. Harbin: Harbin Institute of Technology Press(哈尔滨工业大学出版社), 2004: 29-36.
[12] Xu J, Luan C Y, Tang Y B, et al. Low-temperature synthesis of CuInSe₂ nanotube array on conducting glass substrates for solar cell application[J]. ACS Nano, 2010, 4(10): 6064-6070.
[13] Yeh M H, Hsu K C, Wang S, et al. Toward low-cost large-area CIGS thin film: Compositional and structural variations in sequentially electrodeposited CIGS thin films[J]. Solar Energy, 2016, 125: 415-425.
[14] Yeh M H, Ho S J, Wang K C, et al. Toward low-cost large-area CIGS thin film II: Out-of-plane compositional variations of sequentially electrodeposited Cu/In/Cu/Ga/Cu stacked layers selenized in rapid thermal process[J]. Solar Energy, 2016, 129: 116-125.
[15] Bhattacharya R N, Oh M, Kim Y. CIGS-based solar cells prepared from electrodeposited precursor films[J]. Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, 2012, 98: 198-202.
[16] Xia D L(夏冬林), Xu M(徐慢), Li J Z(李建庄), et al. The electrodeposition and performance of Cu(In, Ga)-Se₂ thin film[J]. Journal of Synthetic Crystals(人工晶体学报), 2006, 35(5): 1146-1150.