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

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Main Authors: Gilshtein, Evgeniia, Gupta, Harshvardhan Maheshkant, Enevoldsen, Andrea Maria Pierri, Besleaga, Cristina, Galca, Aurelian Catalin, Canulescu, Stela
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Gilshtein, Evgeniia
Gupta, Harshvardhan Maheshkant
Enevoldsen, Andrea Maria Pierri
Besleaga, Cristina
Galca, Aurelian Catalin
Canulescu, Stela
author_facet Gilshtein, Evgeniia
Gupta, Harshvardhan Maheshkant
Enevoldsen, Andrea Maria Pierri
Besleaga, Cristina
Galca, Aurelian Catalin
Canulescu, Stela
contents We report on the fabrication and optimization of semi-transparent antimony sulfide (Sb$_2$S$_3$) 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/Sb$_2$S$_3$/Spiro-OMeTAD/Au architectures. Optimizing the Sb$_2$S$_3$ absorber thickness to 100 nm yielded a champion device with a power conversion efficiency of 2.76\%, short-circuit current density of 14 mA/cm$^2$, 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 Sb$_2$S$_3$ (more than 90 at.\%) and improved crystallinity after sulfurization. These results demonstrate the potential of sputtered Sb$_2$S$_3$ 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.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2506_01170
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Superstrate structured Sb$_2$S$_3$ thin-film solar cells by magnetron sputtering of Sb and post-sulfurization
Gilshtein, Evgeniia
Gupta, Harshvardhan Maheshkant
Enevoldsen, Andrea Maria Pierri
Besleaga, Cristina
Galca, Aurelian Catalin
Canulescu, Stela
Materials Science
Chemical Physics
We report on the fabrication and optimization of semi-transparent antimony sulfide (Sb$_2$S$_3$) 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/Sb$_2$S$_3$/Spiro-OMeTAD/Au architectures. Optimizing the Sb$_2$S$_3$ absorber thickness to 100 nm yielded a champion device with a power conversion efficiency of 2.76\%, short-circuit current density of 14 mA/cm$^2$, 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 Sb$_2$S$_3$ (more than 90 at.\%) and improved crystallinity after sulfurization. These results demonstrate the potential of sputtered Sb$_2$S$_3$ 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.
title Superstrate structured Sb$_2$S$_3$ thin-film solar cells by magnetron sputtering of Sb and post-sulfurization
topic Materials Science
Chemical Physics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2506.01170