Large tin monosulfide crystal opens pathway for next generation solar
cells

Date:
August 21, 2020
Source:
Tohoku University
Summary:
A team has succeeded in growing large single crystals of tin
monosulfide, a material used in next generation solar cells.



FULL STORY ==========================================================================
Tin monosulfide (SnS) is a promising material used for next generation
solar cells because of its nontoxic characteristics and abundance,
in addition to its excellent photovoltaic properties. Sakiko Kawanishi
and Issei Suzuki led a team that has succeeded in growing large single
crystals of SnS, which can provide a pathway for the fabrication of SnS
solar cells with a high conversion efficiency.


==========================================================================
A p-n homojunction, which consists of p-type and n-type SnS, is key to obtaining SnS solar cells with high efficiency. The manufacturing of
such solar cells has until now proved difficult due to the complexity of fabricating n- type SnS in contrast to the easily fabricable p-type SnS.

To solve the problem, the team designed an original feed composition
used for the flux growth of SnS crystals. This is something that had
not been successfully trialed before. A dramatic change appeared in
the grown crystals by halogen addition, that is, enlargement of the
crystal size to a maximum 24 mm in width, in addition to including an
n-type conduction characteristic. The larger crystals lower the stakes
of trial manufacturing the SnS solar cells with p-n homojunction, which accelerates the development for practical application.


========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by Tohoku_University. Note: Content
may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Sakiko Kawanishi, Issei Suzuki, Takeo Ohsawa, Naoki Ohashi, Hiroyuki
Shibata, Takahisa Omata. Growth of Large Single Crystals of n-Type
SnS from Halogen-Added Sn Flux. Crystal Growth & Design, 2020;
DOI: 10.1021/ acs.cgd.0c00617 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/08/200821094834.htm

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