Progress in the research on copper, zinc, tin, sulfur, selenium thin film solar cells in the Institute of Physics
June 09 13:28:29, 2025
The large-scale implementation of solar cells and the enhancement of their photoelectric conversion efficiency hold immense significance. Among emerging technologies, copper-zinc-tin-sulfur-selenium (CZTSSe) solar cells represent a promising new class of inorganic thin-film photovoltaics. These cells boast several advantages, including abundant raw materials, eco-friendly production processes, cost-effectiveness, and compatibility with existing industrial technologies. Despite these benefits, CZTSSe cells currently face challenges related to efficiency optimization, making them a critical focus within the clean energy research domain. At present, advancing the efficiency of CZTSSe solar cells remains a key priority in this field.
Since 2016, Meng Qingbo's team at the Clean Energy Lab of the Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, along with the Beijing National Research Center for Condensed Matter Physics, has dedicated itself to exploring CZTSSe thin-film solar cells. Through profound physical and chemical insights into these materials and devices, the group has achieved significant advancements in recent years. Their work has delved into analyzing charge losses and defect properties in CZTSSe batteries, regulating metal-molecular coordination in environmentally friendly aqueous solutions, controlling the layered crystallization and growth modes of thin films, and addressing body phase defects. These efforts have been documented in prestigious journals such as *Advanced Materials* (2022, DOI: 10.1002/adma.202202858), *Advanced Energy Materials* (2021, 11, 2102298), *Nano Energy* (2020, 76, 105042), *Science Bulletin* (2020, 65, 738), *Nano Energy* (2020, 89, 106405), and *Joule* (2020, 4, 472).
Recently, the team reached yet another milestone in CZTSSe solar cell research, achieving a certified efficiency of 13.6% for one of their devices. This breakthrough not only sets a new global standard for CZTSSe cell efficiency but also earned recognition in the latest edition of the solar cell efficiency tables (Version 60), compiled by renowned expert Martin Green. This accomplishment underscores the team’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of clean energy technology and highlights the potential of CZTSSe cells as a viable solution for future renewable energy needs.