AVS 61st International Symposium & Exhibition | |
Vacuum Technology | Monday Sessions |
Session VT-MoA |
Session: | Vacuum Measurement, Applications of UHV and Ultraclean Processes |
Presenter: | Jason D. Myers, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory |
Authors: | J.D. Myers, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory J.A. Frantz, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory R.Y. Bekele, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory V.Q. Nguyen, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory C.C. Baker, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory S.C. Erwin, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory N.D. Bassim, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory A. Bruce, Sunlight Photonics S.V. Frolov, Sunlight Photonics J.S. Sanghera, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory |
Correspondent: | Click to Email |
The second part of the talk will be focused on an emerging thin film photovoltaic system, FeS2. Based on its favorable bandgap, high absorption coefficient, and immense earth abundancy, FeS2 is a highly promising material for grid-scale energy production. However, no successful thin-film photovoltaic devices have been realized due to surface defect states that arise due to the cubic pyrite structure, where sulfur atoms are differentially bonded at the surface compared to the bulk; this leads to extremely low open circuit voltages and poor diode characteristics. To solve this issue, we are developing vacuum-deposited inorganic capping films to heal these defects by providing bulk-like coordination at the FeS2 surface. FeS2 films with ZnS capping layers show a significant decrease in surface state character, an important step towards efficient FeS2 photovoltaics.