Recent progress on ink-based solution processing of electronics has revealed promising opportunities for low-cost and high-throughput alternative depositions via slot die coating, gravure, and ink-jet printing. In contrast to organic semiconductor ink materials, inorganic electronic materials are often inherently stable when exposed to light, heat, and air, leading to longer-lasting and often more efficient devices. These crystals are also typically insoluble and incompatible with liquid inks. By reducing the particle size to the nanoscale, inorganic materials with a ligand shell can be formulated into liquid ink and deposited from the solution. Previous reports of spin-coated CdTe nanocrystal solar cells show promise for this material; however, fully printed devices still need to be investigated. In this study, all-inorganic and fully printed Glass/ITO/ZnO/CdSe/CdTe/Au solar cells were fabricated and characterized for devices with 0.521 ± 0.03 V (VOC), 5.78 ± 0.01 mA/cm2 (JSC), 21.3 ± 0.30 % FF, and 1.03 ± 0.34 % efficiency under simulated one sun illumination. The pattern quality, printing time, and uniformity of each ink underwent optimization by tuning drop waveforms, solvent polarities and viscosities, drop spacing, and nanocrystal concentrations. Printed film layers and devices were characterized with UV/Vis spectroscopy to determine light absorption, optical and atomic force microscopy to observe the surface morphology, and X-ray diffraction to identify phase and crystallinity.

Inkjet printing of CdTe nanocrystal solar cells

ACS Spring 2022

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.