The Development of Hydrazine-Processed Cu(In,Ga)(Se,S)2 Solar Cells

The hydrazine-based deposition of Cu(In,Ga)(S,Se)2 (CIGS) thin films has attracted considerable attention in recent years due to its potential for the high-throughput production of photovoltaic devices based on this absorber material. This article provides an introduction as well as presenting a complete picture of the current status of hydrazine-based CIGS solar-cell fabrication, including the three major steps of this deposition process: dissolution of the precursor materials in hydrazine, deposition of a film from the resulting precursor solution, and the completion and characterization of a photovoltaic device following absorber deposition. Recent discoveries are then discussed, regarding the dissolution chemistry of the relevant precursor complexes in hydrazine, which together represent the true foundation of this processing method. Recent studies on CIGS film formation are then summarized, including the control and analysis of the crystalline phase, electronic bandgap, and film morphology. Finally, the latest progress in high-performance device fabrication is highlighted, with a focus on optoelectronic characterization including currentvoltage, junction capacitance, and minority carrier lifetime measurements. Finally, a discussion and future outlook is provided.