2 3 solidi a www.pss-a.com applications and materials science Fabrication of dye sensitized solar cell using Cr doped Cu–Zn–Se type chalcopyrite thin film 1,4 status pss physica Phys. Status Solidi A 208, No. 9, 2215–2219 (2011) / DOI 10.1002/pssa.201026368 2 ,2 D. Paul Joseph , S. Ganesan , M. Kovendhan , S. Austin Suthanthiraraj , P. Maruthamuthu* , ,1 and C. Venkateswaran** 1 Materials Science Centre, Department of Nuclear Physics, University of Madras, Guindy Campus, Chennai-600 025, India Department of Energy, University of Madras, Guindy Campus, Chennai 600 025, India 3 Department of Physics, Presidency College, Chennai 600 005, India 4 Present address: Center for Condensed Matter Sciences, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 10617 Taiwan 2 Received 1 July 2010, revised 25 November 2010, accepted 18 April 2011 Published online 19 May 2011 Keywords chalcopyrite, DMS, ferromagnetism, dye sensitized solar cells * Corresponding ** e-mail authors: e-mail pmaruthu@yahoo.com, cvunom@hotmail.com, Phone: þ91-44-22202803, Fax: þ91-44-22352870 Chalcopyrites are a versatile class of semiconductors known for their potential in photovoltaic applications. Considering the well established CuInSe2 as a prototype system, a new compound of the chalcopyrite type, Cu1–xZn1–ySe2–d, by replacing In with Zn, has been prepared (both undoped and 2% Cr doped) by the metallurgical method. Thin films have been deposited by the thermal evaporation technique using the stabilized polycrystalline compounds as charge. Structural, compositional, morphological, and optical properties of the films are analyzed and reported. Use of these films as electrodes in dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC) is demonstrated. ß 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim 1 Introduction Chalcopyrites are a versatile class of semiconductors known for their potential in photovoltaics and non-linear applications [1–3]. They tolerate a large range of anion to cation off stoichiometry termed as ‘‘Ordered Defect Compound’’ (ODC) with large variations in cation to anion ratio [4]. Recently, Tani et al. [5] have interestingly shown in their materials design a positive mixing energy for CuInSe2 and CuGaSe2 leading to spinodal nano-decomposition in CuIn1–xGaxSe2 for high efficiency solar energy conversion. Also, there is an intense search for semiconducting materials possessing inherent ferromagnetic properties at or above room temperature with appreciable magnetization for spintronics applications. Several oxides such as ZnO, TiO2, SnO2, etc. are explored as host materials for preparing diluted magnetic semiconductors (DMS) [6–12]. Apart from oxide system, chalcopyrites are also being explored for its suitability as a DMS. Recently, researchers disclosed the achievement of room temperature ferromagnetism in ‘‘Mn’’ doped II–IV–V2 chalcopyrites such as CdGeP2, ZnGeP2, etc. [13–15]. First principles study of 64 different types of magnetically doped chalcopyrites by Erwin and Zutic [16], lead to the identification of some compositions in which room temperature ferromagnetism can be achieved. On the experimental side, the behavior of transition-metal-doped chalcopyrites is yet to be clearly understood, especially in terms of identifying and optimizing the properties. Few reports on chalcopyrite compounds exist in literature with 3d elements as cations A and B in the ABC2 structure, like CuFeS2 [17, 18]. As in the case of Cu doped ZnSe [19], Cu and Zn in the ratio 1:1 in ZnSe may lead to the new combination, CuZnSe2–d [20], with a chalcopyrite structure. Considering the well established CuInSe2 as a prototype system, a new compound of the chalcopyrite type has been recently reported by replacing In with Zn [21]. The new I–II–VI2 compound CuZnSe2 is also magnetically doped and explored for ferromagnetic ordering [21]. First, polycrystalline undoped and Cr doped CuZnSe2 compounds were prepared by the metallurgical method and using them as charge, thin films have been deposited by thermal evaporation. The motivation of this work is twofold: first, to prepare thin films from previously stabilized [21] polycrystalline undoped and ß 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim solidi status physica pss a 2216 D. Paul Joseph et al.: Fabrication of dye sensitized solar cell Cr doped Cu1–xZn1–ySe2–d compound, second, to fabricate dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC) using these films as electrodes. 2 Experimental High pure elements of Cu, Zn, Se, and Cr weighed for the stoichiometry CuZnSe2 and CuZnSe2:Cr (2%), respectively, were taken in a quartz tube which was evacuated (above 1 105 Torr) and carefully sealed. The contents were induction melted initially and mounted vertically in a box furnace and soaked at 1000 8C/12 h and furnace cooled. This process was repeated three times by placing the tube upside down and vice versa to attain homogeneity. The structural and magnetic characterization of the bulk samples are reported elsewhere [21]. Finally, the retrieved sample, brittle and light green in color, was then powdered using a clean pestle and mortar. Thin film deposition was carried out in a thermal coating unit (Hindhivac 1200 Vacuum Coating Unit, Model 12A4D) using the stabilized polycrystalline un-doped and 2% Cr doped Cu1–xZn1–ySe2–d compounds with a unique vaporization point allowing formation of a uniform thin film of the multi-component alloy. Ultrasonically cleaned <100> oriented Si, quartz, fluorine doped tin-oxide (FTO) glass, and plain glass substrates were mounted over a stainless steel substrate holder cum heater positioned above (’15 cm) the tantalum boat. A K-type thermocouple was used to monitor the substrate temperature. A vacuum of ’106 Torr was achieved using a diffusion pump attached with a liquid nitrogen trap. However, the vacuum during deposition was ’105 Torr due to the vapors from the samples. The temperature of the tantalum boat containing the stabilized polycrystalline pure and 2% Cr doped Cu1–xZn1–ySe2–d powders was raised by resistive heating (above 100 A, ’ 1100 8C) using a transformer to sublime the charge. After deposition, the substrate heater was switched off and the vacuum was maintained till the substrates reached ambient temperature so as to prevent accidental oxidation. 3 Results and discussion The XRD patterns of Cu1–xZn1–ySe2–d and 2% Cr doped thin films deposited at 150 8C over Si wafers are shown in Fig. 1. The characteristic peak of a chalcopyrite phase (112) confirm the formation of the chalcopyrite type Cu1–xZn1–ySe2–d with a tetragonal structure [21, 22]. The chalcopyrite phase with (112) orientation was reported to be beneficial for efficient solar energy conversion in CuInSe2-based solar cells [23]. The (112) and (323) peaks belonging to the tetragonal phase of CuInSe2 chalcopyrite are the characteristics of the polycrystalline nature of the films (JCPDS 81-1936). The average crystallite size estimated from the full-width at half the maximum of the (112) plane using Scherer’s relation [24] were 22 and 25 nm for the un-doped and Cr doped Cu1–xZn1–ySe2–d films, respectively. Microstructural and chemical composition studies using scanning electron microscope (SEM) (Hitachi-S-3400NSEM) were performed on the fabricated thin films for examining the morphology and distribution of the ß 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim Figure 1 XRD patterns of as deposited Cu1–xZn1–ySe2–d and Cu1–xZn1–ySe2–d:Cr (2%) thin films over silicon substrates. constituent elements. Elemental mapping was conducted on a micron scale to check for Cr clustering if any. Figure 2 shows the SEM micrographs and elemental mapping of the Cu1–xZn1–ySe2–d and Cu1–xZn1–ySe2–d:Cr (2%) thin film samples. Green, pink, and blue represent the Cu, Zn, and Se, respectively. The pink at the right end represents Cr. Cu (green dots), Zn (pink dots), and Cr (pink dots) seen in the films are quite uniform without major segregation. However, a variation in stoichiometry of the constituent elements of the synthesized chalcopyrite compounds is observed (Table 1). The spectral transmittance data taken in a spectrophotometer (JASCO Corp., V-570, Rev. 1.00) (Fig. 3) show that the pure and Cr doped films are 50% transparent in the visible region, indicating a reasonably good light absorbing behavior. The thickness (t) of the pure and Cr doped thin films was estimated from the stylus profilometer to be 130 and 330 nm, respectively. The absorption coefficient (a) decreases exponentially with decreasing photon energy, indicating an Urbach characteristic [25]. The direct band gap of undoped and Cr(2%) doped Cu1–xZn1–ySe2–d thin films, determined from the (ahn)2 versus hn (Tauc relation) [26] plot by extrapolating the linear fit given to the linear region to a ¼ 0 (Fig. 4), are 2.832 and 2.882 eV, respectively. Figure 2 (online colour at: www.pss-a.com) SEM micrographs and corresponding elemental mapping (left to right) of undoped (top) and Cr(2%) doped (bottom) Cu1–xZn1–ySe2–d thin films (150 8C on Si) indicating the distribution of various elements in the compounds. www.pss-a.com Original Paper Phys. Status Solidi A 208, No. 9 (2011) 2217 Table 1 Compositional analysis of thin films of Cu1–xZn1–ySe2–d and Cu1–xZn1–ySe2–d:Cr (2%) from EDAX. sample Cu% Zn% Se% Cr% Cu1–xZn1–ySe2–d film Cu1–xZn1–ySe2–d:Cr(2%) film 24.17 26.1 31.61 25.83 44.22 44.27 – 3.8 Figure 4 Band gap of undoped and 2% Cr doped Cu1–xZn1–ySe2–d thin films. Figure 3 Transmittance spectra of undoped and 2% Cr doped Cu1–xZn1–ySe2–d compounds deposited on quartz substrates. The 3D atomic force micrographs of the surface of FTO, undoped and Cr(2%) doped Cu1–xZn1–ySe2-d thin films (Fig. 5) were measured in dynamic mode over a 1 mm 1 mm m area (AFM, Model SPI 6800N). The particles are not of the same height and are distributed irregularly within the measured region indicating polycrystalline nature of the films. The estimated area root mean square (RMS) roughness decreases on doping with Cr (Fig. 5). Room temperature magnetization measurements on the Cr(2%) doped Cu1–xZn1–ySe2–d thin film, deposited at 150 8C over a Si substrate, was carried out in a Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (Lakeshore, 7404, USA) with a maximum applied field of 1.5 T parallel to the film’s surface. The diamagnetic contribution from the substrate was subtracted and the ferromagnetic hysteresis loop without saturation is shown in Fig. 6. The magnetization of bulk Cr(2%) doped Cu1–xZn1–ySe2–d is large [21]. However, the overall magnetization is very small owing to the small mass of the thin film over the substrate. Magnetization in the similar range was reported for thin films of Mn doped CdGeP2 at 300 K [15, 27]. The coercivity was found to be 97 Oe. However, the origin of ferromagnetism observed in Cr doped Cu1–xZn1–ySe2–d deserves much consideration, as it may also be from the nanoscale clusters of spinodal decomposition [21, 28–33]. The first DSSC introduced in 1991 by Regan and Gratzel [34] has a low fabrication cost and a simple preparation procedure [35]. The DSSC has three main components: (i) a sensitized photoanode, which is typically a dye-sensitized nanocrystalline TiO2 (Degussa) film on an FTO (F:SnO2) conducting glass, (ii) an electrolyte solution containing KI and I2 as redox couple, (iii) platinized FTO conducting glass www.pss-a.com Figure 5 (online colour at: www.pss-a.com) Atomic force micrographs of the surfaces of (A) plain FTO, (B) Cu1–xZn1–ySe2–d and C) Cu1–xZn1–ySe2–d (Cr2%) compounds depositedover FTO substrates. The plot shows decreasing trend in the RMS roughness value. as a counter electrode. The principle of DSSC involves the photo-excitation of the sensitizer, followed by electron injection into the conduction band of the semiconductor oxide (TiO2). The dye molecule is regenerated by the redox system, which itself is regenerated at the counter electrode by electrons passing through the load. Here, [cis-dithiocyanoto – N,N-bis (2,20 -bipyridyl-4,40 -dicarboxylic acid) ruthenium (II)] dihdrate (N3) dye is used as the photo-sensitizer. The counter electrode of DSSC is generally made of platinum due to its enhanced conductivity and stability, but it is more expensive. Many research groups tried to replace the platinum electrode, for example with porous carbon materials [36]. Wu et al. explored polypyrrole (Ppy), one of the most intensively studied conducting polymers. The overall energy conversion efficiency of the DSSC with the Pt counter electrode reaches 7.6% [37]. Hard carbon spherules used as a counter electrode for ß 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim solidi status physica pss a 2218 D. Paul Joseph et al.: Fabrication of dye sensitized solar cell Figure 6 Hysteresis loop of Cu1–xZn1–ySe2–d:Cr (2%) film at 300 K. Inset shows the coercivity. Figure 7 I–V curves obtained for the counter electrodes of undoped and 2% Cr doped Cu1–xZn1–ySe2–d thin films at 1.5 AM under 40 mW/cm2. the DSSC show an efficiency of 5.7% under 100 mW/cm2 [38]. Chen et al. reported poly (3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene): poly(styrene sulfonate) coating on a conducting glass (FTO) as a counter electrode [39]. In our studies, the p-type undoped and Cr doped Cu1–xZn1–ySe2–d thin films deposited on FTO glass plates were explored as counter electrodes in DSSC. Surface derivatization of nanoporous TiO2 coating [40] was achieved by immersing the thin film electrode overnight, in a 5 105 M ethanolic solution of the N3 dye at room temperature. The above dye-sensitized coating was further coated with an electrolyte solution containing KI and I2 (redox couple), 0.6 M of tetra butyl ammonium iodide, 0.1 M LiI, 0.5 M 4-tert-butyl pyridine in acetonitrile solvent and it was placed in between two electrodes without any special sealing. The current–voltage (I–V) characteristics of our solar cells were measured under illumination [overall area of 1 sq. cm with a tungsten halogen lamp (OSRAM, Germany) of intensity 40 mW/cm2 using an EXTECH–33 model lightmeter with 1.5 AM by masking the remaining area with teflon] by means of a BAS 100 A electrochemical analyzer. The active area of the cell was 1 cm2. From the photovoltaic measurement of the fabricated DSSC, the fill-factor (FF) and the overall light to current energy conversion efficiency (h) of the DSSC were calculated from, FF ¼ ðVmax Jmax Þ=ðVoc Jsc Þ; (1) h ¼ ðVoc Jsc FF=Pin Þ100; (2) where Jsc is the short-circuit current density, Voc the opencircuit voltage, Pin the intensity of light power, and Jmax and Vmax are the current density and voltage at the point of maximum power output on the I–V curves, respectively. The I–V curves (Fig. 7) of the DSSC with undoped and 2% Cr doped Cu1–xZn1–ySe2–d thin films as couter electrodes were measured under illumination of 40 mW/cm2. The photoelectric parameters of DSSCs such as Jsc, Voc, FF, and the overall conversion efficiency (h) are listed in Table 2. The conversion ß 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim Table 2 I–V characteristics of the DSSC using undoped and 2% Cr doped Cu1–xZn1–ySe2–d thin film counter electrodes at 1.5 AM under 40 mW/cm2. system V I FF (mV) (mA/cm2) 490 TiO2/N3dye/electrolyte/ pure Cu1–xZn1–ySe2–d 520 TiO2/N3 dye/electrolyte/ 2% Cr doped Cu1–xZn1–ySe2–d TiO2/N3/electrolyte/Pt (standard) 620 h (%) 2.5 0.5 1.5 3.3 0.51 2.2 5.3 0.51 4.2 efficiencies of undoped and 2% Cr doped Cu1–xZn1–ySe2–d thin films deposited over FTO glass plates (as counter electrodes) are 1.5 and 2.2%, respectively. Compared to undoped Cu1–xZn1–ySe2–d, the efficiency of 2% Cr doped Cu1–xZn1–ySe2–d is higher, indicating slight improvement on doping with Cr. Though these values are lower than those of the Pt counter electrodes, these new combination of compounds are worth to explore for better efficiency. 4 Conclusions Undoped and 2% Cr doped Cu1–xZn1–y Se2–d thin films with (112) texture were successfully grown using the polycrystalline compound as charge. The Cu1–xZn1–ySe2–d compound also has considerable band gap with high absorption coefficient suitable for absorbing wide range of wavelengths from the solar radiation. The Cr doped Cu1–xZn1–ySe2–d film presents hysteresis behavior at room temperature. The I–V characteristics indicate the potential of Cu–Zn–Se chalcopyrite as counter electrodes for DSSC. 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