Invited Speech:

Sb₂Se₃: A non-toxic alternative to CdTe for thin film solar cells?

Jiang Tang¹*, Liang Wang¹, Ying Zhou¹, Chao Chen^1
1 Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology.
*E-mail: jtang@mail.hust.edu.cn

Prof. Jiang Tang Professor Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST)

 

Date: 12 Dec 2016 (Mon)
Time: 4:00 - 4:30pm
Venue: TY Wong Hall, 5/F, Ho Sin Hang Engineering Building, CUHK

 

Abstract:

CdTe is the most competitive thin film technology in the market due to its high efficiency (22.1% in the lab and 18% for the module), low cost (~$0.05/Wp), and reliable operation (10GW has been installed and work well). However, Cd is toxic and Te is scarce and expensive. We are working on replacing CdTe with a new absorber, Sb₂Se₃, which is nontoxic, low-cost and possesses excellent optical and electrical properties¹. Through nearly 4 years intensive work, we have gradually understood the fundamental properties of Sb₂Se₃² and have produced a superstrate Sb₂Se₃ thin film solar cell with 6.5% certified efficiency and outstanding stability. Furthermore, the method used for Sb₂Se₃ film deposition, rapid thermal evaporation, is quick and inexpensive, and highly adaptable to current CdTe production lines.

References:
[1] Y. Zhou, J. Tang, et. al. Nature Photonics, 2015, 9, 409.
[2] C. Chen, J. Tang, et. al. submitted.

 

About speaker:

Jiang Tang is a full professor at Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology. He obtained his Ph.D from University of Toronto in 2010 under the supervision of Prof. Edward Sargent and afterwards did his postdoctoral research at IBM T. J. Watson Research center. He started his group in 2012 and has focused his research mainly on next generation solar cells including Sb₂Se₃ and CuSbSe₂ thin film solar cells and PbS colloidal quantum dot photovoltaics. He has published 70 journal papers including a few in Nature Photonics and Nature Materials which earnt him >3300 citations. He is the recipient of the 1000 Young Talent program of Chinese government and the National Natural Science Funds for Outstanding Young Scholar, and also an editor of Frontiers in Optoelectronics.