Silver Antimony Sulfide Selenide Thin-Film Solar Cells Via Chemical Deposition

Silver antimony sulfide selenide (AgSbS1.3Se0.7) thin film forms from silver antimony sulfide (AgSbS2, 700 nm) and amorphous selenium (Se, 300 nm), both obtained via chemical deposition and heated in contact at 180 degrees C for 30 min in an argon ambient. The face-centered cubic (fcc) structure of AgSbS2 (cuboargyrite) is maintained in AgSbS1.3Se0.7. The optical bandgap of 1.8 eV (direct forbidden) in AgSbS2 reduces to 1.47 eV in AgSbS1.3Se0.7 with an increase in the light-generated current density from 19 to 29 mA cm(-2). The photoconductivity in AgSbS1.3Se0.7 of 2 x 10(-5) omega(-1) cm(-1) is an order of magnitude higher than that in AgSbS2. A solar cell of SnO2:F/CdS(80 nm)/AgSbS1.3Se0.7(700 nm)/C-Ag, produced by heating at 280 degrees C with the graphite (C) electrode applied, shows a conversion efficiency (eta) of 0.65%, open-circuit voltage (V-oc) of 0.537 V, short-circuit current density (J(sc)) of 2.07 mA cm(-2), and fill factor of 0.60. In AgSbS2 solar cell, eta is of 0.54% with a V-oc of 0.625 V. The merits of AgSbS1.3Se0.7 as a solar cell absorber and ways to increase the J(sc) in the AgSbS1.3Se0.7 solar cell to match its J(L) are discussed.