On the Mechanistic Understanding of Photovoltage Loss in Iron Pyrite Solar Cells

Gerrit Boschloo; Anders Hagfeldt; Tomas Edvinsson

doi:10.1002/adma.201905653

journal article Open Access May 19, 2020

On the Mechanistic Understanding of Photovoltage Loss in Iron Pyrite Solar Cells

Gerrit Boschloo

Anders Hagfeldt

Tomas Edvinsson

Advanced Materials Vol. 32 No. 26 · Wiley

View at Publisher Save 10.1002/adma.201905653

Abstract

AbstractConsidering the natural abundance, the optoelectronic properties, and the electricity production cost, iron pyrite (FeS2) has a strong appeal as a solar cell material. The maximum conversion efficiency of FeS2 solar cells demonstrated to date, however, is below 3%, which is significantly below the theoretical efficiency limit of 25%. This poor conversion efficiency is mainly the result of the poor photovoltage, which has never exceeded 0.2 V with a device having appreciable photocurrent. Several studies have explored the origin of the low photovoltage in FeS2 solar cells, and have improved understanding of the photovoltage loss mechanisms. Fermi level pinning, surface inversion, ionization of bulk donor states, and photocarrier loss have been suggested as the underlying reasons for the photovoltage loss in FeS2. Given the past and more recent scientific data, together with contradictory results to some extent, it is timely to discuss these mechanisms to give an updated view of the present status and remaining challenges. Herein, the current understanding of the origin of low photovoltage in FeS2 solar cells is critically reviewed, preceded by a succinct discussion on the electronic structure and optoelectronic properties. Finally, suggestions of a few research directions are also presented.

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Details

Published: May 19, 2020
Vol/Issue: 32(26)
License: View

Authors

G

Gerrit Boschloo

Department of Chemistry Angstrom Laboratory Uppsala University Uppsala 751 20 Sweden

A

Anders Hagfeldt

Laboratory for Photomolecular Science École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne Lausanne CH‐1015 Switzerland

T

Tomas Edvinsson

Department of Engineering Sciences Division of Solid State Physics Angstrom Laboratory Uppsala University Uppsala 751 21 Sweden

Funding

Energimyndigheten Award: 44648‐1

Cite This Article

Gerrit Boschloo, Anders Hagfeldt, Tomas Edvinsson (2020). On the Mechanistic Understanding of Photovoltage Loss in Iron Pyrite Solar Cells. Advanced Materials, 32(26). https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.201905653

On the Mechanistic Understanding of Photovoltage Loss in Iron Pyrite Solar Cells

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