AVS 58th Annual International Symposium and Exhibition
    Energy Frontiers Focus Topic Wednesday Sessions
       Session EN1+TF-WeA

Paper EN1+TF-WeA8
Surface Structure of Pyrite Thin Films Grown by MOCVD

Wednesday, November 2, 2011, 4:20 pm, Room 103

Session: Thin Film Chalcogenide Solar Cells (CIGS, CZTS, CdTe and Related Materials)
Presenter: Ming Hsin Cheng, University of California, Irvine
Authors: M. Cheng, University of California, Irvine
Y. Liu, University of California, Irvine
N. Berry, University of California, Irvine
A. Margarella, University of California, Irvine
J.C. Hemminger, University of California, Irvine
M. Law, University of California, Irvine
H. Bluhm, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Z. Liu, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Correspondent: Click to Email
Iron pyrite (FeS2) has been considered one of promising materials for use in solar cells due to its large absorption coefficient, suitable band gap and elemental abundance. In-lab X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and tunable-energy synchrotron X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were used to explore the surface structure of pyrite thin films grown by metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD). The influence of sodium diffusion on the growth of pyrite thin films on glass substrates was examined. By using synchrotron X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, the different types of sulfur chemical states on the surface of pyrite thin films were resolved. The mechanism of pyrite oxidation after exposure to different oxidizing environments indicated that the surface monosulfide species were oxidized first. In addition, the band gap of pyrite thin films was determined by combining valence band spectroscopy with X-ray absorption spectroscopy compared to traditionally ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroscopy. The discrepancy between the two measurement techniques will be discussed.