Synthesis and Comparison of Properties of Single-Crystalline Bi_(13)S_(18)X_2, and Fabrication of Solar Cells By Physical Vapor Deposition

摘要

As the global demand for energy is expected to grow rapidly, securing clean energy is essential for sustainable economic growth. Solar energy is the most promising clean energy source for the next-generation. One of the grand challenges in the field of photovoltaic materials is to find suitable materials which can produce high powder conversion efficiency, environmental-friendly and low cost. Recently, some V-VI-VII compounds (V = Sb, Bi; VI = O, S, Se; VII = Cl, Br, I) have attracted much attention as potential electronic materials. These compounds exhibit a variety of physical characteristics, including high photoconductivity, ferroelectric photovoltaic effects, piezoelectricity, electrooptical effects, and structural diversity. However, only a few of studies have been reported on Bi_(13)S_(18)X_2 (X = Cl, Br, I) (BSX) compounds. Traditionally, these bismuth sulfohalogenides are synthesized using a vapor transport process and flux process under high temperature conditions over 600°C. Herein, we reported a facile solvothermal process for the synthesis of bismuth sulfohalogenides Bi_(13)S_(18)X_2 and systematic characterization of their photoelectric behavior as light absorbers for solar cells. A BSX-based solar cells, fabricated by PVD method, demonstrated a champion PCE of 1.15% for the first time, revealing the potential of BSX as a new type of light absorber material for solar cells.