Synchrotron spectroscopy for the in situ and operando characterization of thin film solar cells

The project aims at a fundamental understanding of the structural, chemical and electronic properties of thin film solar cells in well-defined environments by employing synchrotron spectroscopy.

At present, the development of cost-effective, high-efficiency thin film solar cells is limited by their detailed characterization which is challenging by conventional techniques.

Since the thin film solar cells properties may change during their fabrication or applications, it is important to not only study the static physiochemical properties of such materials but also their dynamics under in situ conditions.The project will run for 4-years and I will work in close collaboration with thin film solar cell experts at Uppsala University.

The work will focus on monitoring the atomic and electronic structures of kesterite CZTS thin film solar cells close to the interfacial regions under processing or outdoor relevant environments and operating conditions.

Specially, X-ray photoelectron and absorption spectroscopies with complementary information depths will be applied for the in situ and operando investigations of thin film solar cells under controllable gas atmosphere, temperature, light illumination or voltage bias.

The measurements will allow monitoring how the solar cells properties change during complex fabrication steps, device degradation from annealing treatments or during operation conditions which will contribute to the development of more stable and more effective solar cells.