New insights into the nanostructure of innovative thin film solar cells gained by positron annihilation spectroscopy

Journal article (2017)

Authors

S.W.H. Eijt RST/Fundamental Aspects of Materials and Energy - AS
W. Shi RST/Fundamental Aspects of Materials and Energy - AS
V. Callewaert Universiteit Antwerpen
R Saniz Universiteit Antwerpen
B Partoens Universiteit Antwerpen
B Barbiellini Northeastern University
A Bansil Northeastern University
J. Melskens Photovoltaic Materials and Devices - EEMCS
M. Zeman Electrical Sustainable Energy
A.H.M. Smets Photovoltaic Materials and Devices - EEMCS
M. Kulbak Weizmann Institute of Science
G. Hodes Weizmann Institute of Science
D. Cahen Weizmann Institute of Science
E.H. Brück RST/Fundamental Aspects of Materials and Energy - AS
M. Butterling RST/Fundamental Aspects of Materials and Energy - AS
H. Schut RST/Neutron and Positron Methods in Materials - AS
W Egger Universität der Bundeswehr München
M. Dickmann Universität der Bundeswehr München
C Hugenschmidt Technische Universität München
B. Shakeri University of Maine
R Meulenberg University of Maine
Research Group
RST/Fundamental Aspects of Materials and Energy (AS) (TU Delft)
Copyright: © 2017 S.W.H. Eijt, W. Shi, A. Mannheim, M. Butterling, H. Schut, W Egger, M. Dickmann, C Hugenschmidt, B. Shakeri, R.W. Meulenberg, V. Callewaert, R Saniz, B Partoens, B Barbiellini, A Bansil, J. Melskens, M. Zeman, A.H.M. Smets, M. Kulbak, G. Hodes, D. Cahen, E.H. Brück
DOI
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https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/791/1/012021
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Published Date

2017

Language

English

Faculty

Applied Sciences

Department

RST/Radiation, Science and Technology

Research Group

RST/Fundamental Aspects of Materials and Energy

Abstract

Recent studies showed that positron annihilation methods can provide key insights into the nanostructure and electronic structure of thin film solar cells. In this study, positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS) is applied to investigate CdSe quantum dot (QD) light absorbing layers, providing evidence of positron trapping at the surfaces of the QDs. This enables one to monitor their surface composition and electronic structure. Further, 2D-Angular Correlation of Annihilation Radiation (2D-ACAR) is used to investigate the nanostructure of divacancies in photovoltaic-high-quality a-Si:H films. The collected momentum distributions were converted by Fourier transformation to the direct space representation of the electron-positron autocorrelation function. The evolution of the size of the divacancies as a function of hydrogen dilution during deposition of a-Si:H thin films was examined. Finally, we present a first positron Doppler Broadening of Annihilation Radiation (DBAR) study of the emerging class of highly efficient thin film solar cells based on perovskites.