Potential photovoltaic properties of thin film solar cells based on chemically deposited ZnO/PbSe junctions

Abstract

We report for the first time the fabrication of thin film solar cells based only on aqueous-phase chemically deposited ZnO/PbSe junctions. In particular, ZnO and PbSe thin films were synthesized by Successive Ionic Layer Absorption-Reaction and Chemical Bath Deposition methods. The photovoltaic performance was tested by fabricating ITO/ZnO/PbSe/Ag arrangements. Fill factors (FF), open-circuit voltages (Voc) and short-circuit current densities (Jsc) in the range of 25.4–29.2%, 0.39–0.51 V and 17.9–21.5 mA/cm2 were achieved. Power conversion efficiencies varied typically between 1.9% and 3.0%. Results showed the important photovoltaic activity of our solar cells, achieving good and comparable efficiencies to those reported by similar research. Our research represents a considerable improvement of the cost-performance relation for this kind of device.