EURO-TMDC: MOS2 AND WS2 thin films for photovoltaic applications

Objective

The need for inexpensive and highly efficient solar cells forces the exploration of new semiconductors which satisfy the photovoltaic criteria. For large scale applications, economic, ecological, chemical and electronic
properties have to be taken into account: Resource abundance, ease of fabrication, especially thin film technologies, long term stability and non-toxicity. The transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDC's) MoS2 and WS2 fulfill all these requirements.


First solid state devices based on untreated WS2 thin films exhibited already reasonable open circuit voltages (up to 550 mV under 85 mW/cm2 AM 1.5 simulated sun illumination) despite a non optimized, planar diode geometry. The properties of the MoS2 and WS2 thin films, which are of photovoltaic interest, are almost identical. They depend on composition, structure and morphology and can be optimized by a suitable choice of deposition parameters.
The aim of the proposed project is to study the solar cell performance of MoS2 and WS2 thin film devices dependent on different preparation techniques and chemical treatments. With respect to device fabrication MoS2 and WS2 films will be deposited on metallic or semiconducting contacts by the following preparation techniques: CVD, MOCVD, chemical deposition, electrochemical deposition, synthesis by solid state reaction, sputtering, and screen printing. With ZnO or ITO as emitter material heterojunctions will be prepared. Chemical treatments and intercalation experiments will be carried out in order to optimize the material and device properties. All the participants in the EURO*TMDC project are experts in thin film preparation and characterization of TMDC's. The EURO*TMDC project brings now an unique opportunity to concentrate both experiences concerning the material properties of TMDC thin films as well as the solar cell device fabrication. Thus, the innovation supported by the European Community will be the development of thin film solar cells containing abundant and non-toxic elements.

Fields of science

• engineering and technology › materials engineering › coating and films
• natural sciences › physical sciences › electromagnetism and electronics › semiconductivity
• natural sciences › mathematics › pure mathematics › geometry
• engineering and technology › environmental engineering › energy and fuels › renewable energy › solar energy › photovoltaic

Programme(s)

• FP3-JOULE 2 - Specific research and technological development programme (EEC) in the field of non-nuclear energy, 1990-1994

Topic(s)

• 0304 - Renewable energies for rural electricity, local fuel and water

Call for proposal

Data not available

Funding Scheme

CSC - Cost-sharing contracts

Coordinator

UNIVERSITAET KONSTANZ

Address

27,jacob Buchhardtstrasse 29
78457 Konstanz
Germany

Participants (6)

Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)

France

Address

1 Place Aristide-briand
92195 Meudon

HAHN-MEITNER-INSTITUT BERLIN GMBH

Germany

Address

Glienicker Strasse 100
14109 Berlin

SWISS FEDERAL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY LAUSANNE

Switzerland

Address

Phb Ecublens
1015 Lausanne

UNIVERSITY OF ROME "LA SAPIENZA"

Italy

Address

2,piazzale Aldo Moro 5
00185 Roma

Université de Bordeaux I

France

Address

351 Cours De La Libération
33405 Talence

Université de Nantes

France

Address

2 Rue De La Houssinière
44072 Nantes