Earth abundant materials for high efficiency heterojunction thin film solar cells

We investigate earth abundant materials for thin-film solar cells that can meet tens of terawatts level deployment potential. Candidate materials are identified by combinatorial search, large-scale electronic structure calculations, and literature reviews. We identified cuprous oxide (Cu₂O) as a prototype candidate for investigation as an absorber layer in thin film solar cells. Cu₂O thin films are deposited by reactive DC magnetron sputtering and characterized. In order to tailor electrical properties, we modify grain structure, and add defects that enhance electron transport, maintaining desired optical gap.