title: Antimony-based ligand exchange to promote crystallization in spray-deposited Cu2ZnSnSe4 solar cells.
abstract: A multistrategy approach to overcome the main challenges of nanoparticle-based solution-processed Cu2ZnSnSe4 thin film solar cells is presented. We developed an efficient ligand exchange strategy, using an antimony salt, to displace organic ligands from the surface of Cu2ZnSnS4 nanoparticles. An automated pulsed spray-deposition system was used to deposit the nanoparticles into homogeneous and crack-free films with controlled thickness. After annealing the film in a Se-rich atmosphere, carbon-free and crystalline Cu2ZnSnSe4 absorber layers were obtained. Not only was crystallization promoted by the complete removal of organics, but also Sb itself played a critical role. The Sb-assisted crystal growth is associated with the formation of a Sb-based compound at the grain boundaries, which locally reduces the melting point, thus promoting the film diffusion-limited crystallization.
authors.affiliation: Catalonia Energy Research Institute - IREC , Jardí de les Dones de Negre 1, Sant Adria del Besos, Barcelona, 08930, Spain.
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carrete
authors.forename: Alexey
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shavel
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Fontané
authors.forename: Joana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Montserrat
authors.forename: Jiandong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ibáñez
authors.forename: Edgardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Saucedo
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pérez-Rodríguez
authors.forename: Andreu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cabot