12.84% Efficiency Flexible Kesterite Solar Cells by Heterojunction Interface Regulation

Abstract

Due to their environmental friendliness, low cost, and versatility in applications, flexible Cu₂ZnSn(S, Se)₄ (CZTSSe) solar cells have garnered significant attention in recent years. However, the lack of alkali metal elements in the flexible substrate has posed a challenge to the advancement of flexible CZTSSe solar cells. In this study, a post‐treatment strategy is proposed involving Rb ions to simultaneously regulate the surface properties of the CZTSSe film and the reactions during the CdS chemical bath deposition (CBD) process. Material and chemical characterization results confirm that Rb ions effectively passivate the detrimental Se⁰ defect, leading to a more active surface for the CdS epitaxial growth. Additionally, the coordination between Rb ions and thiourea in the CBD solution improves the ion‐by‐ion deposition of the CdS layer. These beneficial effects significantly improve the heterojunction interface and consequently enable the flexible CZTSSe solar cell to achieve a record total‐area efficiency of 12.84% and excellent bending performance. Overall, the heterojunction interface regulation strategy employed in this work, along with the obtained remarkable results, offer promising prospects for the development of flexible CZTSSe solar cells.