First-principles study of Cu(2)ZnSnS(4) and the related band offsets for photovoltaic applications

Author(s)
Akihiro Nagoya, Ryoji Asahi, Georg Kresse
Abstract

First-principles calculations of the band offsets between Cu(2)ZnSnS(4) (CZTS) and XS (X = Cd, Zn) are performed. While the interface dipole contribution for the band offsets is calculated using the Perdew-Burke-Ernzerhof functional, the Heyd-Scuseria-Ernzerhof hybrid functional is employed to introduce the quasiparticle corrections to the band offsets. The calculated conduction band offset between CZTS and CdS is 0.2 eV, validating CdS for the buffer layer of the CZTS solar cell. The small conduction band offset stems from the band gap narrowing of CdS under the interface strain caused by the lattice misfit with CZTS. A large valence band offset over 0.9 eV between CZTS and ZnS indicates that precipitated ZnS is regarded as an inactive insulator phase in CZTS absorbers.

Organisation(s)
Computational Materials Physics
External organisation(s)
Toyota Central R&D Labs., Inc.
Journal
Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter
Volume
23
No. of pages
6
ISSN
0953-8984
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1088/0953-8984/23/40/404203
Publication date
2011
Peer reviewed
Yes
Austrian Fields of Science 2012
103018 Materials physics
Sustainable Development Goals
SDG 7 - Affordable and Clean Energy
Portal url
https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/3a135010-31ed-4f97-afa2-d19aac47a7ed