Fabrication of ETA cells based on ZnO/CuInS₂ core/shell heterostructure

Abstract

ZnO/CuInS₂/CuSCN heterostructure was synthetised using ZnO/CuInS₂ core/shell nanorods array as substrate via a low cost electrodeposition method. The as obtained heterostructure could be considered as the main part of typical extremely thin absorber solar cell, since the ZnO nanorods and CuInS₂ layer would serve as the electronic delivery material and light absorber, while the β-CuSCN would play the role of hole conductor. The as obtained heterostructure shows a high absorbing capacity in the visible part of the solar spectrum with a light absorption centre located at ∼550 nm, and the efficiency of the solar cells was measured to be 0.16% using Au as counter electrode.

Keywords:

• ZnO
• CuInS₂
• Heterostructure
• Electrodeposition
• ETA cell

Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge financial support from the National Nature Science Foundation of China [grant number. 51102174].