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Moser S, Aribia A, Scaffidi R, Gilshtein E, Brammertz G, Vermang B, Tiwari AN, Carron R. Controlled Li Alloying by Postsynthesis Electrochemical Treatment of Cu 2ZnSn(S, Se) 4 Absorbers for Solar Cells. ACS APPLIED ENERGY MATERIALS 2023; 6:12515-12525. [PMID: 38155875 PMCID: PMC10751737 DOI: 10.1021/acsaem.3c02483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Revised: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023]
Abstract
Li-alloying of Cu2ZnSn(S, Se)4 (CZTSSe) absorbers is widely accepted for its beneficial influence on the performance of CZTSSe-based thin film solar cells. Given the degraded morphology characteristic of absorbers synthesized in the presence of excess Li concentrations, it is speculated that Li may be best incorporated into the absorber after synthesis. Here, we report an innovative method to add Li to synthesized CZTSSe by an electrochemical treatment using a liquid electrolyte. Our approach decouples Li addition from absorber synthesis, allowing one to possibly overcome morphology issues associated with high Li concentration. We show that Li is thereby transferred to the absorber and is incorporated into the crystal lattice. The resulting Li concentration in the absorber can be easily controlled by the treatment parameters. Using liquid electrolytes allows a straightforward disassembly of the lithiation setup and hence the fabrication of solar cells after electrochemical treatment. Electrochemically lithiated solar cells reached power conversion efficiencies of up to 9.0%. Further optimization of this innovative method is required to reduce expected interface issues resulting from the electrochemical treatment to demonstrate a gain in the power conversion efficiency of the CZTSSe solar cells. Finally, our results indicate strong lateral Li diffusion, which deserves further investigation. Moreover, the method could be transferred to other material systems, such as Cu(In, Ga)Se2 (CIGS), and adapted to treat layers with other alkali elements such as Na.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Moser
- Laboratory
for Thin Films and Photovoltaics, Empa—Swiss
Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Überlandstrasse 129, 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Abdessalem Aribia
- Laboratory
for Thin Films and Photovoltaics, Empa—Swiss
Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Überlandstrasse 129, 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Romain Scaffidi
- IMO,
Hasselt University, Wetenschapspark 1, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium
- IMOMEC,
imec, Wetenschapspark
1, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium
- EnergyVille
2, Thor Park 8320, 3600 Genk, Belgium
- ICTEAM,
UCLouvain, Place du Levant
3/L5.03.02, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Evgeniia Gilshtein
- Laboratory
for Thin Films and Photovoltaics, Empa—Swiss
Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Überlandstrasse 129, 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Guy Brammertz
- IMO,
Hasselt University, Wetenschapspark 1, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium
- IMOMEC,
imec, Wetenschapspark
1, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium
- EnergyVille
2, Thor Park 8320, 3600 Genk, Belgium
| | - Bart Vermang
- IMO,
Hasselt University, Wetenschapspark 1, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium
- IMOMEC,
imec, Wetenschapspark
1, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium
- EnergyVille
2, Thor Park 8320, 3600 Genk, Belgium
| | - Ayodhya N. Tiwari
- Laboratory
for Thin Films and Photovoltaics, Empa—Swiss
Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Überlandstrasse 129, 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Romain Carron
- Laboratory
for Thin Films and Photovoltaics, Empa—Swiss
Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Überlandstrasse 129, 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland
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Xing J, Yan L, Chen T, Song Z, Wang Z, Liu Y, Zhou L, Li J. Highly lithiophilic and structurally stable Cu-Zn alloy skeleton for high-performance Li-rich ternary anodes. J Colloid Interface Sci 2023; 652:627-635. [PMID: 37586949 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2023.08.058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Revised: 08/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023]
Abstract
Lithium (Li)-rich ternary alloy, comprising a multi-alloy phase as the built-in three-dimensional (3D) framework and a Li metal phase as a reversible Li reservoir, is a promising high-energy-density anode for rechargeable Li metal batteries. The introduction of metal/metalloid components to the alloy can effectively regulate Li deposition and maintain the dimensional integrity of the Li anode. Herein, the lithium-copper-zinc (Li-Cu-Zn) ternary alloy, as a new type of alloy anode, is synthesized via a facile thermal melting method. The fully delithiated 3D scaffold comprised two Cu-Zn alloy phases named CuZn and CuZn5. These alloy phases exhibit higher lithiophilicity and structural stability than Li-Zn and Li-Cu alloys. Moreover, the CuZn phase is electrochemically inert, ensuring the geometric stability of the anode, while the CuZn5 phase can readily undergo alloying reaction with Li to form the LiZn phase, thereby facilitating uniform Li nucleation and deposition. The hybridized multiphase alloy structure and specific energy storage mechanism of the Cu-Zn based alloy scaffold in the ternary alloy anode facilitate dendrite-free Li deposition and prolonged cycle lifetime. The Li metal full battery based on lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) cathode exhibits high cycling stability with high-capacity retention of 95.4% after 1000 cycles at 1C.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianxiong Xing
- School of Materials and Energy, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, PR China; Yangtze Delta Region Institute (Huzhou), University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Huzhou 313001, PR China
| | - Luo Yan
- School of Physics, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, PR China
| | - Tao Chen
- School of Materials and Energy, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, PR China; School of Electronic Engineering, Chengdu Technological University, Chengdu 611730, PR China
| | - Zhicui Song
- School of Materials and Energy, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, PR China; Yangtze Delta Region Institute (Huzhou), University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Huzhou 313001, PR China
| | - Zihao Wang
- School of Materials and Energy, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, PR China; Yangtze Delta Region Institute (Huzhou), University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Huzhou 313001, PR China
| | - Yuchi Liu
- School of Materials and Energy, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, PR China; Yangtze Delta Region Institute (Huzhou), University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Huzhou 313001, PR China
| | - Liujiang Zhou
- School of Physics, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, PR China
| | - Jingze Li
- School of Materials and Energy, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, PR China; Yangtze Delta Region Institute (Huzhou), University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Huzhou 313001, PR China.
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