BRIGE: Nanoparticle-Based Photovoltaic Cells from Earth-Abundant Materials

这个扩大参与工程研究启动补助金（BRIGE）提供资金，用于开发一种制造铜锌锡硫化物合金（CZTS）光伏电池的新方法。该项目将研究太阳能电池制造的关键方面，从选择可行的前体开始，以器件表征结束。这是第一次，CZTS纳米粒子将使用气相，连续流动的非热等离子体反应器从金属盐的溶液开始合成。这一过程产生了一个高度反应性的环境，预计将能够高速率生产高质量的纳米颗粒。颗粒形态和组成将被仔细地表征，其目标是严格控制颗粒化学计量，预计这将对光伏器件的性能产生至关重要的影响。粒子将使用飞行中等离子体引发的表面化学进行官能化，并且预期所得油墨与辊对辊涂布技术相容。致密化的半导体层将通过使用各种技术的退火来实现。原型太阳能电池将进行测试，目标是与基于相同材料系统的设备相比，提高功率转换效率（目前为10%）。并将评估基于等离子体的制造方法生产高效CZTS太阳能电池的可行性。如果成功，CZTS系统的可扩展工艺的应用将为可再生能源生产提供一种新的，商业上可行的方法。这种材料系统很有吸引力，因为它是基于廉价，地球丰富，无毒的元素。该项目还将通过研究尚未广泛研究的材料系统的气相化学和颗粒形成动态来推进材料的等离子体处理领域。

This Broadening Participation Research Initiation Grant in Engineering (BRIGE) provides funding for the development of a novel approach to the fabrication of copper-zinc-tin-sulfide alloy (CZTS) photovoltaic cells. The project will investigate critical aspects of the fabrication of solar cells, starting from the selection of viable precursors and ending with device characterization. For the first time, CZTS nanoparticles will be synthesized using a gas-phase, continuous flow non-thermal plasma reactor starting from solutions of metal salts. This process generates a highly reactive environment which is expected to enable high-rate production of high-quality nanoparticles. Particle morphology and composition will be carefully characterized with the goal of tight control of particle stoichiometry which is expected to have a crucial influence on the performance of the photovoltaic device. The particles will be functionalized using in-flight plasma-initiated surface chemistry and the resulting ink is expected to be compatible with roll-to-roll coating techniques. A densified semiconducting layer will be realized by annealing using various techniques. The prototype solar cell will be tested with the goal of improving the power conversion efficiency (currently 10%) as compared to devices based on the same material system. And the feasibility of the plasma-based fabrication approach for the production of efficient CZTS solar cells will be assessed.If successful, the application of a scalable process for the CZTS system would provide a new, commercially viable approach to renewable energy production. This material system is attractive because it is based on cheap, earth-abundant, non-toxic elements. This project will also advance the field of plasma processing of materials by investigating the gas-phase chemistry and the dynamic of particle formation for a material system that has not been widely investigated.