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Atmospheric pressure synthesis of In2Se3, Cu2Se, and CuInSe2 without external selenization from solution precursors

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Abstract

In2Se3, Cu2Se, and CuInSe2 thin films have been successfully fabricated using novel metal organic decomposition (MOD) precursors and atmospheric pressure-based deposition and processing. The phase evolution of the binary (In-Se and Cu-Se) and ternary (Cu-In-Se) MOD precursor films was examined during processing to evaluate the nature of the phase and composition changes. The In-Se binary precursor exhibits two specific phase regimes: (i) a cubic-InxSey phase at processing temperatures between 300 and 400 °C and (ii) the γ-In2Se3 phase for films annealed above 450 °C. Both phases exhibit a composition of 40 at.% indium and 60 at.% selenium. The binary Cu-Se precursor films show more diverse phase behavior, and within a narrow temperature processing range a number of Cu-Se phases, including CuSe2, CuSe, and Cu2Se, can be produced and stabilized. The ternary Cu-In-Se precursor can be used to produce relatively dense CuInSe2 films at temperatures between 300 and 500 °C. Layering the binary precursors together has provided an approach to producing CuInSe2 thin films; however, the morphology of the layered binary structure exhibits a significant degree of porosity. An alternative method of layering was explored where the Cu-Se binary was layered on top of an existing indium-gallium-selenide layer and processed. This method produced highly dense and large-grained (>3 µm) CuInSe2 thin films. This has significant potential as a manufacturable route to CIGS-based solar cells.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado, 80401, USA

    Jennifer A. Nekuda Malik, Michael Kaufman & Ryan P. O’Hayre

  2. National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, Colorado, 80401, USA

    Jennifer A. Nekuda Malik, Maikel F. A. M. van Hest, Alexander Miedaner, Calvin J. Curtis, Jennifer E. Leisch, Philip A. Parilla & David S. Ginley

  3. HelioVolt Corporation, Austin, Texas, 78744, USA

    Matthew Taylor & B. J. Stanbery

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  1. Jennifer A. Nekuda Malik
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  2. Maikel F. A. M. van Hest
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Correspondence to Jennifer A. Nekuda Malik.

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This author was an editor of this journal during the review and decision stage. For the JMR policy on review and publication of manuscripts authored by editors, please refer to http://www.mrs.org/jmr_policy

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Nekuda Malik, J.A., van Hest, M.F.A.M., Miedaner, A. et al. Atmospheric pressure synthesis of In2Se3, Cu2Se, and CuInSe2 without external selenization from solution precursors. Journal of Materials Research 24, 1375–1387 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1557/jmr.2009.0155

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