English

Superstrate structured Sb$_2$S$_3$ thin-film solar cells by magnetron sputtering of Sb and post-sulfurization

Materials Science 2025-06-03 v1 Chemical Physics

Abstract

We report on the fabrication and optimization of semi-transparent antimony sulfide (Sb2_2S3_3) thin-film solar cells in a superstrate configuration, using RF magnetron sputtering of metallic antimony followed by post-deposition sulfurization. The influence of absorber and buffer layer thicknesses on device performance was systematically studied in FTO/CdS/Sb2_2S3_3/Spiro-OMeTAD/Au architectures. Optimizing the Sb2_2S3_3 absorber thickness to 100 nm yielded a champion device with a power conversion efficiency of 2.76\%, short-circuit current density of 14 mA/cm2^2, and open-circuit voltage of 650 mV. The devices exhibit up to 20\% transmittance in the 380--740 nm wavelength range, indicating their suitability for indoor and building-integrated photovoltaic applications. Structural and compositional analyses confirmed high-purity Sb2_2S3_3 (more than 90 at.\%) and improved crystallinity after sulfurization. These results demonstrate the potential of sputtered Sb2_2S3_3 as a scalable and tunable absorber for emerging transparent thin-film solar technologies and highlight the critical role of thickness optimization and interface control in device performance.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2506.01170,
  title  = {Superstrate structured Sb$_2$S$_3$ thin-film solar cells by magnetron sputtering of Sb and post-sulfurization},
  author = {Evgeniia Gilshtein and Harshvardhan Maheshkant Gupta and Andrea Maria Pierri Enevoldsen and Cristina Besleaga and Aurelian Catalin Galca and Stela Canulescu},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2506.01170},
  year   = {2025}
}