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Solution-processed silicon/SnCl2-treated Ti3C2Tx MXene Schottky junction solar cells

溶液法制备硅/SnCl2处理的Ti3C2TxMXene肖特基结 太阳电池

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Abstract

In this study, a novel photovoltaic cell based on the Ti3C2Tx MXene/n-type silicon (n-Si) Schottky junction is developed by a simple solution-processed method of drop-casting the Ti3C2Tx MXene ethanol suspension onto the surface of n-Si wafers and the subsequent natural drying in air. The demonstration device with a simple configuration of Ag (top electrode)/Ti3C2Tx/n-Si/In:Ga (back electrode) delivers a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 5.70% with a short-circuit current density (Jsc) of 20.68 mA cm−2, open-circuit voltage (Voc) of 0.530 V and fill factor (FF) of 52.0% under AM 1.5G illumination. After treating the MXene layer with the SnCl2 aqueous solution, an improved PCE to 6.95% (Jsc: 23.04 mA cm−2; Voc: 0.536 V; FF: 56.2%) can be achieved because of the reduced light reflection, improved quality of junction and electrical contact, as well as the increased carrier lifetime/suppressed carrier recombination. Given the simple device configuration, facile preparation and huge potential for performance improvement, this work is believed to provide valuable exploration of developing novel solar cells.

摘要

非掺杂异质结晶硅太阳电池是目前光伏领域的一个研究热点. 本文通过简单的滴涂工艺, 并经自然干燥制备了一种基于Ti3C2Tx MXene/n-Si肖特基结的新型光伏电池. 此非掺杂异质结光伏电池在标 准AM 1.5G模拟太阳光下短路电流密度为20.68 mA cm−2, 开路电压为 0.530 V, 填充因子为52.0%, 光电转换效率达到了5.70%. 新型Ti3C2Tx MXene/n-Si肖特基结光伏电池具有简单的器件结构和简便的制备工 艺. 通过异质结界面改良, 二维材料性能改善等都可大幅提高其光电转 换性能. 经SnCl2水系溶液对MXene层进行处理后, 器件光电转换效率 进一步提升至6.95% (Jsc = 23.04 mA cm−2, Voc = 0.536 V, FF = 56.2%). 经处理后的MXene层, 可以有效减少光反射并提高光吸收. SnCl2水系 溶液的处理, 还能进一步改善异质结质量及MXene层与顶电极的接触, 进而通过抑制载流子复合提高载流子寿命.

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Acknowledgements

This work was financially supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Gansu (20JR10RA611).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Special Function Materials & Structure Design of Ministry of Education, and School of Materials & Energy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China

    Xincheng Yao  (姚鑫城), Lujie Yin  (尹鲁杰), Yanzhou Wang  (王艳周), Weining Liu  (刘卫宁), Caidong Xie  (谢才东), Qiming Liu  (刘奇明), Yujun Fu  (付玉军), Yali Li  (李亚丽), Junshuai Li  (栗军帅) & Deyan He  (贺德衍)

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  1. Xincheng Yao  (姚鑫城)
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  2. Lujie Yin  (尹鲁杰)
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  3. Yanzhou Wang  (王艳周)
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  4. Weining Liu  (刘卫宁)
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  5. Caidong Xie  (谢才东)
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  6. Qiming Liu  (刘奇明)
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  7. Yujun Fu  (付玉军)
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  8. Yali Li  (李亚丽)
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  9. Junshuai Li  (栗军帅)
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  10. Deyan He  (贺德衍)
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Contributions

Author contributions Yao X participated in the design of this study, conducted the experiments, performed data analysis and drafted the manuscript. Yin L participated in the part of the experiments and collected important background information. Wang Y, Liu W and Xie C participated in the literature search, data acquisition and analysis, and manuscript preparation. Liu Q and Fu Y provided assistance for data acquisition and analysis. Li Y proposed the idea, supervised the research and revised the manuscript. Li J supervised the research and revised the manuscript. He D performed the manuscript review. All authors have read and approved the content of the manuscript.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Yali Li  (李亚丽) or Junshuai Li  (栗军帅).

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Conflict of interest The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Supplementary information Supporting data are available in the online version of the paper.

Xincheng Yao is currently a master student at the School of Materials & Energy, Lanzhou University. His research interest focuses on the development of novel 2D MXene materials and the related Ti3C2Tx MXene/n-Si Schottky junction solar cells.

Yali Li received her bachelor and master degrees of science both from Lanzhou University and doctor degree of engineering from Saitama University, Japan. From 2009.01 to 2012.03, she worked at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore as a research fellow. Now, she holds a faculty position at the School of Materials & Energy, Lanzhou University. Her current research focuses on energy-harvesting and storage devices.

Junshuai Li is currently a professor at the School of Materials & Energy, Lanzhou University. Prior to holding this position, he performed the research on preparation of high-quality photovoltaic (PV) materials and structures, design and fabrication of advanced Si nanostructure-based PV devices at Saitama University, Japan (2006.10–2008.09) and Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (2008.09-2012.03). Now his main research interest focuses on the optical and electrical behaviors in subwavelength semiconductor structures, and renewable energy devices.

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Yao, X., Yin, L., Wang, Y. et al. Solution-processed silicon/SnCl2-treated Ti3C2Tx MXene Schottky junction solar cells. Sci. China Mater. 65, 896–903 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40843-021-1829-3

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