Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 13, 2026

Solution-Processed "Silver-Bismuth-Iodine" Ternary Thin Films for Lead-Free Photovoltaic Absorbers
Published on: September 27, 2018
Detailed Visualization of Phase Evolution during Rapid Formation of Cu(InGa)Se2 Photovoltaic Absorber from
Jaseok Koo1, Sammi Kim1,2, Taehoon Cheon2,3
1School of Chemical Engineering, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, Gyeongbuk, 38541, Republic of Korea.
Abstract:
Amongst several processes which have been developed for the production of reliable chalcopyrite Cu(InGa)Se2 photovoltaic absorbers, the 2-step metallization-selenization process is widely accepted as being suitable for industrial-scale application. Here we visualize the detailed thermal behavior and reaction pathways of constituent elements during commercially attractive rapid thermal processing of glass/Mo/CuGa/In/Se precursors on the basis of the results of systematic characterization of samples obtained from a series of quenching experiments with set-temperatures between 25 and 550 °C. It was confirmed that the Se layer crystallized and then melted between 250 and 350 °C, completely disappearing at 500 °C. The formation of CuInSe2 and Cu(InGa)Se2 was initiated at around 450 °C and 550 °C, respectively. It is suggested that pre-heat treatment to control crystallization of Se layer should be designed at 250-350 °C and Cu(InGa)Se2 formation from CuGa/In/Se precursors can be completed within a timeframe of 6 min.
Related Concept Videos
The Evidence for Evolution
Convergent Evolution
Phase Transitions
Phase II Reactions: Glutathione Conjugation and Mercapturic Acid Formation
Several distinctive characteristics distinguish glutathione conjugation from other phase II...
Eukaryotic Evolution
Contrary to the endosymbiont theory, the eukaryote-first hypothesis proposes that the simpler prokaryotic and...
Synteny and Evolution
Around 80 million years ago, the human and mice lineages diverged from the common ancestor. During the course of evolution, the ancestral...

