Materials science

Kesterite

Optoelectronics

Engineering

Heterojunction

Nanotechnology

Energy conversion efficiency

Photovoltaics

Non-radiative recombination

CZTS

Semiconductor materials

Photovoltaic system

Suns in alchemy

Semiconductor

Electrical engineering

Solar cell

Nature Energy

Sulfide kesterite Cu2ZnSnS4 provides an attractive low-cost, environmentally benign and stable photovoltaic material, yet the record power conversion efficiency for such solar cells has been stagnant at around 9% for years. Severe non-radiative recombination within the heterojunction region is a major cause limiting voltage output and overall performance. Here we report a certified 11% efficiency Cu2ZnSnS4 solar cell with a high 730 mV open-circuit voltage using heat treatment to reduce heterojunction recombination. This heat treatment facilitates elemental inter-diffusion, directly inducing Cd atoms to occupy Zn or Cu lattice sites, and promotes Na accumulation accompanied by local Cu deficiency within the heterojunction region. Consequently, new phases are formed near the hetero-interface and more favourable conduction band alignment is obtained, contributing to reduced non-radiative recombination. Using this approach, we also demonstrate a certified centimetre-scale (1.11 cm2) 10% efficiency Cu2ZnSnS4 photovoltaic device; the first kesterite cell (including selenium-containing) of standard centimetre-size to exceed 10%. The emerging kesterite Cu2ZnSnS4 solar cell offers a potential low-cost, non-toxic, materially abundant platform for next-generation photovoltaics, yet its efficiency has been mired below 10%. Yan et al. now use post-heat treatment of the heterojunction to show device efficiencies that surpass 10%.

Cu2ZnSnS4 solar cells with over 10% power conversion efficiency enabled by heterojunction heat treatment