Iron-Chalcogenide Based Solar Absorbers

ORAL

Abstract

Earth abundant, non-toxic solar absorbers are greatly desirable to reduce solar cell production cost. FeS$_{2}$ pyrite, with a band gap of $\sim $0.9 eV, is well known for outstanding absorption properties, yet significant photoconversion has never been achieved. Our computational and experimental study recognizes the failure mechanism of iron pyrite as an instability with respect to other Fe$_{x}$S (0.5$<$x$\le $1) metallic compositions. A set of design rules emerges for the realization of high absorption transition metal-chalcogenide absorbers. Fe$_{2}$MS$_{4}$ (M=Si,Ge) are proposed as viable candidates, and merit for solar absorber application discussed.

*US Department of Energy, Office of Basic Energy Sciences as part of an Energy Frontier Research Center

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Authors

  • Robert Kykyneshi

    • Department of Chemistry, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR

  • Vorranutch Jieratum

    • Department of Chemistry, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR

  • Emmeline Altschul

    • Department of Chemistry, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR

  • Ram Ravichandran

    • School of EECS, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR

  • Brian Pelatt

    • School of EECS, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR

  • Liping Yu

    • National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO

  • Alex Zunger

    • National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO

  • John Wager

    • School of EECS, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR

  • Douglas Keszler

    • Department of Chemistry, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR