SusChEM: Collaborative Research: Theoretical and Experimental Investigation of Iron Oxysulfide for Terawatt Photovoltaics

技术描述：该项目的目标是合成和研究硫化铁，特别是硫化赤铁矿，目标是取代当前太阳能电池技术中的关键部件，用于下一代光伏。硫化赤铁矿具有适当的硫浓度，有望满足太瓦级光伏发电的成本和效率要求。该项目的科学任务包括：1)作为太阳能光伏材料的氧化铁和氧化铜的第一性原理研究；2)开发硫化赤铁矿的沉积和硫化方法；3)研究其电学和光学性质随硫含量的变化；以及4)开发溶液基赤铁矿的n型和p型掺杂方法。该项目的主要创新包括：1)使用地球上丰富的三种元素铁、氧和硫进行带隙工程，以创造更适合于太阳能光伏的半导体；2)使用主要基于溶液的薄膜沉积和掺杂工艺，以确保最终获得低成本的太阳能电池；非技术描述：该项目的成功将使太阳能电池技术成为一种可持续的太阳能电池技术，它能够低成本、高效率地部署，最重要的是太瓦级的部署，使太阳能发电成为我们未来的主要能源。此外，该项目还包括一项有针对性的努力，以增加美国印第安人在科学和工程领域的代表性，并提高亚利桑那州当地部落对光伏技术的认识。主要研究人员与美国印第安人科学与工程学会和亚利桑那州商务部等实体合作，在偏远部落社区推广光伏技术，为美国印第安人的理工科学生提供研究机会，并让美国印第安人的年轻人对一般的科学和工程学产生兴趣。该项目还为新成立的美国光伏制造联盟(PVMC)提供协同支持，以促进国内太阳能电池行业的蓬勃发展。该项目的成功将为PVMC提供一条技术管道，而PVMC则为该项目提供工业连接。

Technical Description: The objective of this project is to synthesize and investigate iron oxysulfide, in particular sulfurized hematite, with the goal of replacing critical components in the current solar cell technologies for next-generation photovoltaics. Sulfurized hematite, with an appropriate concentration of sulfur, will potentially meet the cost and efficiency requirements for terawatt photovoltaics. The scientific tasks of the project include: 1) First-principles studies of iron oxysulfide and copper oxysulfide as solar photovoltaic materials; 2) Development of deposition and sulfurization methods for sulfurized hematite; 3) Investigation of its electrical and optical properties as a function of sulfur content; and 4) Development of solution-based n-type and p-type doping methods for hematite. The major innovations in this project include: 1) the use of three Earth-abundant elements, iron, oxygen and sulfur, for bandgap engineering to create a semiconductor better suited for solar photovoltaics; 2) the use of largely solution-based processes for film deposition and doping to ensure low-cost solar cells in the end; and 3) a multidisciplinary approach, where first-principles studies and experimental studies are joined to push forward the technology.Non-technical Description: The success of this project will enable a sustainable solar cell technology, which is capable of low-cost, high-efficiency and most importantly terawatt-scale deployment, allowing solar electricity to become a major source of energy in our future. In addition, this project includes a targeted effort to increase the representation of American Indians in science and engineering as well as increase the awareness of local Arizona tribes on photovoltaic technologies. The principal investigators work with entities such as the American Indian Science and Engineering Society and Arizona Department of Commerce to promote photovoltaic technologies in remote tribal communities, provide research opportunities to American Indian science and engineering students, and engage and interest American Indian youth about science and engineering in general. This project also provides synergistic support to the newly-established U.S. Photovoltaic Manufacturing Consortium (PVMC) for its mission to facilitate a robust domestic solar cell industry. The success of this project will provide a technology pipeline for PVMC, while PVMC provides industrial connections for this project.