Paper TF-ThP42
Experimental Evaluation of Cheap, Overly Abundant Semiconductor Materials for Wide-Spread Photovoltaic Applications

Thursday, November 12, 2009, 6:00 pm, Room Hall 3

Only a limited amount of semiconductor materials have been deployed on a wide-spread basis for terrestrial solar energy production. Single crystalline silicon has held the majority of the market share, with other technologies emerging over the years with a smaller presence (e.g. a-Si:H, CdTe, CIGS). Some of the materials used in many of these technologies possess clear long-term disadvantages with regards to economics, availability, and environmental consequences. A recent study of 23 potential semiconductors ranks the potential of each in regards to their annual electricity production potential and their raw material cost [1]. Detailed experimental research on the photovoltaic potential of many of these individual compounds is very sparse or non-existent.

In this experimental study, seven of the best candidates were selected for further investigation, including FeS₂, Zn₃P₂, PbS, CuO, CuO₂, NiS, and ZnSe. Transmission, reflection, and absorption measurements were performed on these binary compounds. Solar cells were also fabricated at the Florida Solar Energy Center to measure photovoltaic properties, including conversion efficiency under Standard Test Conditions, quantum efficiency and spectral response. The measured optical and electrical properties of these semiconductor materials provides a better understanding of the potential of each for wide-spread deployment. Future work will be focused toward optimizing device design and fabrication processes to maximize the energy conversion of the best potential compounds.

1. C. Wadia, A.P. Alivisatos, D.K. Kammen, Environmental Science and Technology, 2009, 43 (6), 2072-2077