Core-shell nanoparticles for photovoltaic absorber films
AssigneeNanoco Technologies Ltd.
InventorChristopher Newman
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Abstract
A method for the preparation of CIGS-type core-shell nanoparticles produces core-shell nanoparticles that may include a quaternary or ternary metal chalcogenide core. The core may be substantially surrounded by a binary metal chalcogenide shell. A core-shell nanoparticle may be deposited on a PV cell contact (e.g., a molybdenum electrode) via solution-phase deposition. The deposited particles may then be melted or fused into a thin absorber film for use in a photovoltaic device.
Claims20
A photovoltaic device comprising:
- a support;
- a substrate layer on the support;
- an absorber layer on the substrate layer, the absorber layer comprising:
- a matrix having one or more of Cu, In and Ga and one or more of S and Se;
- and
- a plurality of core nanoparticles dispersed throughout the matrix, the core nanoparticles comprising a metal chalcogenide having the formula
- AB1-xB′xC2-yC′y
- wherein
- A is Cu, Zn, Ag or Cd;
- B and B′ are Al, In or Ga;
- C and C′ are S, Se or Te;
- 0≤x≤1;
- 0≤y≤2;
- B and B′ are not the same element;
- and
- C and C′ are not the same element.
The photovoltaic device recited in claim 2 further comprising a layer comprising an n-type semiconductor on top of the absorber layer.
A composition of matter, the composition comprising:
- a matrix having one or more of Cu, In and Ga and one or more of S and Se;
- and
- a plurality of core nanoparticles dispersed throughout the matrix, the core nanoparticles comprising a metal chalcogenide having the formula
- AB1-xB′xC2-yC′y
- wherein
- A is Cu, Zn, Ag or Cd;
- B and B′ are Al, In or Ga;
- C and C′ are S, Se or Te;
- 0≤x≤1;
- 0≤y≤2;
- B and B′ are not the same element;
- and
- C and C′ are not the same element.
A method of forming an absorber layer in a photovoltaic device having a substrate comprising:
- coating a film of ink onto the substrate, the ink containing a plurality of CIGS-type core-shell nanoparticles, each CIGS-type core-shell nanoparticle comprising:
- a core having the formula
- AB1-xB′xC2-yC′y
- where A is Cu, Zn, Ag or Cd;
- B and B′ are Al, In or Ga;
- C and C′ are S, Se or Te;
- 0≤x≤1;
- 0≤y≤2;
- B and B′ are not the same element;
- and C and C′ are not the same element;
- and
- a shell substantially surrounding the core, the shell comprising a binary metal chalcogenide having the formula MxEy, where M is a metal and E is a chalcogen;
- and
- heating the coated substrate to cause the shells of the CIGS-type core-shell nanoparticles to react and form a matrix having the cores of the CIGS-type core-shell nanoparticles dispersed therein.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.