Solar cells from laser sintered, earth-abundant, colloidal nanocrystalline thin films

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Large scale application of solar cells relies on simple, low cost (yet efficient and flexible) processing as well as the use of earth-abundant and non-toxic materials. Iron pyrite (FeS2) and antimony selenide (Sb2Se3) are earth-abundant materials that are attractive for solar cell applications due to large absorption cross sections, simple phase chemistry, and defect tolerant grain structure, respectively. However, challenges remain in performance due to polycrystallinity of the films and limiting surface defects.This experimental project will investigate how laser processing can be used to process thin films of FeS2 and Sb2Se3 colloidal nanocrystals into solar cell absorber layers and how initial materials and laser processing parameters affect the interaction with the material and the final device functional performance.