Development of an operando characterization stage for multi-modal synchrotron x-ray experiments.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Renewable Energy
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Micro- and nanoscale inhomogeneities significantly impact thin-film solar cell performance.
• Correlating material properties across length scales and measurement modalities, especially during operation or aging, is a significant challenge.
• Existing laboratory X-ray instruments often have limitations in flux, resolution, or sample size for advanced characterization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a versatile characterization stage for multi-scale, multi-modal operando measurements of photovoltaic devices.
• To enable correlation of material properties across different length scales and measurement techniques under operational and aging conditions.
• To overcome limitations of existing laboratory X-ray instruments for advanced solar cell characterization.

Main Methods:

• Development of a novel characterization stage compatible with synchrotron X-ray facilities.
• Integration of multi-modal X-ray techniques including nanoscale X-ray fluorescence microscopy, microscale X-ray diffraction microscopy, and X-ray beam induced current microscopy.
• Testing the stage with industrially relevant Se-alloyed CdTe photovoltaic devices under varying temperatures (25-100°C) and controlled atmospheres.

Main Results:

• The developed stage successfully enables multi-scale, multi-modal operando measurements on photovoltaic devices up to 25x25 mm².
• Demonstrated correlation of material properties across different length scales during simulated aging (25-100°C) in relevant atmospheres.
• The stage facilitates increased statistical significance of correlated properties by allowing access to multiple regions of interest.

Conclusions:

• The new characterization stage is a powerful tool for understanding structure-property relationships in thin-film solar cells under operational and aging conditions.
• This advancement overcomes previous limitations, paving the way for more accurate and comprehensive analysis of photovoltaic device performance.
• The stage's compatibility with synchrotron facilities and its operando capabilities are crucial for future research in advanced solar energy materials.