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Energy level alignment in TiO2/metal sulfide/polymer interfaces for solar cell applications
Rebecka Lindblad1, Ute B Cappel, Flannan T F O'Mahony
1Department of Physics and Astronomy, Molecular and Condensed Matter Physics, Uppsala University, Box 516, SE-751 20 Uppsala, Sweden. hakan.rensmo@physics.uu.se.
Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics : PCCP
|July 10, 2014
Summary
Investigating semiconductor interfaces in solar cells reveals that narrower bandgaps in metal sulfides reduce electron injection and hole transfer efficiency. Antimony sulfide (Sb2S3) demonstrated optimal energy levels for efficient solar cell performance.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Renewable Energy
- Photovoltaics
Background:
- Semiconductor sensitized solar cells are crucial for renewable energy.
- Understanding interfacial electronic structures is key to improving solar cell efficiency.
- Titanium dioxide (TiO2) and metal sulfides are common materials in these devices.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the interfacial electronic structures of TiO2/metal sulfide/polymer interfaces.
- To determine the energy level alignment for various metal sulfides.
- To correlate energy level alignment with solar cell performance.
Main Methods:
- Photoelectron spectroscopy was employed to study interfaces.
- Experimental energy level alignment was determined for TiO2/CdS, TiO2/Sb2S3, and TiO2/Bi2S3 interfaces.
- Metal sulfides were deposited using single-source metal xanthate precursors.
Main Results:
- A decrease in driving forces for electron injection into TiO2 and hole transfer to the polymer was observed with narrower bandgaps in CdS, Sb2S3, and Bi2S3.
- Sb2S3 exhibited favorable energy level alignment with 0.3 eV for electron injection and 0.4 eV for hole transfer.
- TiO2/Bi2S3 interface showed no driving force for electron injection, resulting in very low solar cell performance.
Conclusions:
- Energy level alignment significantly impacts semiconductor sensitized solar cell efficiency.
- Sb2S3 shows promise as a light absorber due to its favorable interfacial energetics.
- Careful selection of metal sulfides and understanding their band alignment is critical for designing efficient solar cells.
