@phdthesis{Handick2016, author = {Handick, Evelyn}, title = {Surface and interface characterization by X-ray and electron spectroscopies - revealing the peculiarities of Cu(In,Ga)Se₂ chalcopyrite and CH₃NH₃PbI(₃-ᵪ)Clᵪ perovskite-based thin film solar cell structures}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:co1-opus4-42431}, school = {BTU Cottbus - Senftenberg}, year = {2016}, abstract = {This thesis focuses on the investigation and characterization of the surfaces and interfaces of chalcopyrite-based Cu(In,Ga)Se₂ (CIGSe) and organo-metal mixed halide perovskites, specifically CH₃NH₃PbI(₃-ᵪ)Clᵪ thin film solar cell absorbers using various x-ray and electron spectroscopies. In particular, the impact of alkali treatments on the chemical and electronic surface and near-surface structure of CIGSe absorbers is studied. For CH₃NH₃PbI(₃-ᵪ)Clᵪ the compound formation is monitored and the peculiarities of the interface formation of CH₃NH₃PbI(₃-ᵪ)Clᵪ on compact and mesoporous TiO₂ are examined. Laboratory and synchrotron-based photoelectron spectroscopy are used to gain a depth-dependent picture of the chemical and electronic structure in the surface and near-surface region of CIGSe absorbers, focusing on the influence of NaF and NaF/KF post-deposition treatments (PDT) when compared to alkali-free CIGSe absorbers. The alkali-free and NaF-PDT absorbers show similar chemical properties, having a Cu and Ga poor surface region compared to the nominal bulk and the same chemical environment for indium and selenium. For the NaF/KF-PDT samples a K-In-Se compound is present on top of a Cu-In-Ga-Se compound, with a nanopatterned surface that is almost devoid of Cu and Ga. Further, for the NaF-PDT sample a near-surface electronic band gap of 1.61[+0.14/-0.51] eV is derived. In contrast, a large and more gradual change towards the surface is obtained for the NaF/KF-PDT absorber exhibiting a significant band gap widening of the surface, which is in agreement with a Cu- and Ga-devoid surface region and the formation of a K-In-Se surface compound. To in-situ monitor the compound formation of CH₃NH₃PbI(₃-ᵪ)Clᵪ on compact TiO₂ (c-TiO₂) hard x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy is used. During in-situ annealing a drop-casted layer of precursor solution on c-TiO₂ shifts in the perovskite related core levels can be observed upon reach the "transition temperature" of 80-100°C. Further the Cl signal decrease at the onset of annealing and shows a depletion in the surface region for annealing temperatures above 50°C. In addition, the chemical and electronic structure of the interface between perovskite and mesoporous TiO₂ (mp-TiO₂) or c-TiO₂ using different perovskite layer thicknesses are studied.}, subject = {Chalcopyrit; Perovskite; Photoelectron spectroscopy; Thin film solar cell; Chalkopyrite; Perowskite; Photoelektronenspektroskopie; D{\"u}nnschichtsolarzelle; Kupferkies; Perowskit; Photoelektronenspektroskopie; D{\"u}nnschichtsolarzelle}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Hartmann2018, author = {Hartmann, Claudia}, title = {Surface and interface characterization of CH₃NH₃PbI₍₃₋ₓ₎Clₓ and CsSnBr₃ perovskite based thin-film solar cell structures}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:co1-opus4-46358}, school = {BTU Cottbus - Senftenberg}, year = {2018}, abstract = {The chemical and electronic structure of hybrid organometallic (CH₃NH₃PbI₍₃₋ₓ₎Clₓ) and inorganic (CsSnBr₃) perovskite materials on compact TiO₂ (c-TiO₂) is studied using x-ray and electron based spectroscopic techniques. The morphology and local elemental composition of CH₃NH₃PbI₍₃₋ₓ₎Clₓ, used as absorbers in PV devices, defining the film quality and influencing the performance of respective solar cells is studied in detail by using photoemission electron microscopy (PEEM). An incomplete coverage, with holes reaching down to the c-TiO₂ was revealed; three different topological regions with different degrees of coverage and chemical composition were identified. Depending on the degree of coverage a variation in I oxidation and the formation of Pb⁰ in the vicinity of the c-TiO₂ is found. The valence band maxima (VBM) derived from experimental data for the perovskite and c-TiO₂, combined with information from literature on spiro-MeOTAD suggests an energy level alignment resulting in an excellent charge selectivity at the absorber/spiro-MeOTAD and absorber/c-TiO₂ interfaces respectively. Further, the derived energy level alignment indicates a large recombination barrier (~2 eV), preventing shunts due to direct contact between c-TiO₂ and spiro-MeOTAD in the pin-holes. In-situ ambient pressure hard x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (AP-HAXPES) studies of 60 and 300 nm CH₃NH₃PbI₍₃₋ₓ₎Clₓ have been performed under varies conditions (i.e. vacuum/water and dark/UV light) to gain insight into the degradation mechanism responsible for the short lifetime of the absorber. The 60 nm perovskite forms Pb⁰ in water vapor (non-defined illumination) in presence of x-rays. The 300 nm perovskite sample shows a complex behavior under illumination/dark. In water vapor/dark the perovskite dissolves into its organic (MAI) and inorganic (PbI₂) components. Under illumination PbI₂ further decomposes to Pb⁰ induced by UV light and x-rays. For alternative inorganic CsSnBr₃ perovskites, the impact of SnF₂ on the chemical and electronic structure is studied to identify its role for the improved performance of the solar cell. HAXPES and lab-XPS measurements performed on CsSnBr₃ with and without SnF₂ indicate two Sn, Cs, and Br species in all samples, where the second Sn species is attributed to oxidized Sn (Sn⁴⁺). When adding SnF₂ to the precursor solution, the coverage is improved and less Sn⁴⁺ and Cs and Br secondary species can be observed, revealing an oxidation inhibiting effect of SnF₂. Additionally, SnF₂ impacts the electronic structure, enhancing the density of states close to the VBM.}, subject = {Perovskite; Photoelectron spectroscopy; Thin-film solar cell; Solid-state physics; Photovoltaics; Photovoltaik; Festk{\"o}rperphysik; D{\"u}nnschichtsolarzelle; Photoelektronenspektroskopie; Perowskite; Fotovoltaik; Halbleiter; D{\"u}nnschichtsolarzelle; Perowskit; Photoelektronenspektroskopie}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Xiao2019, author = {Xiao, Ting}, title = {X-ray spectroscopic study of heterostructure contacting schemes for optoelectronic devices}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:co1-opus4-49391}, school = {BTU Cottbus - Senftenberg}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Annealing-induced solid phase crystallization of In₂O₃:H leads to a significantly improved electron mobility, which is confirmed by Hall measurements. Indium hydroxide dehydroxylation occurs in In₂O₃:H during annealing, which is well responsible for the structural transformation and a high electron mobility with a decreased carrier concentration in crystallized In₂O₃:H. A significant decrease in the intensity of occupied gap states is observed in crystallized In₂O₃:H, possibly due to a decrease in carrier concentration. Doped In₂O₃ variants have been found to have a quite deeper allowed transition level below the valence-band edge than undoped In₂O₃, which in particular applies to crystallized In₂O₃:H, but most likely attributed to a change of the crystal structure upon annealing and/or a different O 2p-In 4d coupling near the VBM compared to amorphous In₂O₃:H. To well understand the interface properties of Ag/In₂O₃:H upon annealing, a thin Ag film was grown on the In₂O₃:H substrate and annealed in vacuum up to 300 °C. During annealing, the potential Ag diffusion into the bulk In₂O₃:H and/or a change of an annealing-induced Ag topography (i.e., cluster formation) occurs, with a small Ag oxidation (i.e., Ag₂O and AgO). With Ag deposition, an initial downward band bending of (0.11±0.05) eV was present in In₂O₃:H, attributed to a Schottky contact formed at the Ag/In₂O₃:H interface. Upon annealing, the downward band bending reduces gradually, and the Schottky-barrier height at the Ag/In₂O₃:H interface also decreases. A thickness series of the individual materials on the respective "substrate" (i.e., MnS/Si, GaN/MnS, and ZnO/GaN) was epitaxially grown on Si (100) wafer, and the interfacial chemistry and energy-level alignment at the respective interfaces are examined using photoelectron spectroscopy. At the MnS/Si interface, an interface-induced band bending (IIBB) appears in Si, which of values are found to be (0.15±0.07) and (0.23±0.07) eV for 4 and 15 nm MnS/Si stacks, respectively. The MnS/Si heterointerface shows a type-II (staggered) band lineup with a VBO of (-0.37±0.10) eV and the corresponding CBO of (2.27±0.10) eV. For the GaN/MnS interface, a significant diffusion of Mn into the GaN layer takes place during GaN deposition. In addition, an interface-induced band bending (IIBB) by ~0.30 eV is observed in MnS. The GaN/MnS interface shows a type-II (staggered) band lineup with a VBO of (1.46±0.10) eV and the corresponding CBO of (-1.09±0.10) eV. At the ZnO/GaN interface, a significant N diffusion from GaN into ZsnO takes place, i.e., Zn-N bonds, when ZnO is grown on the GaN layer. Also, an interfacial oxide (GaOx) layer was formed during ZnO deposited on GaN films. The ZnO/GaN heterointerface shows a type-II (staggered) band lineup with a VBO of (2.48±0.10) eV and the corresponding CBO of (-2.50±0.10) eV, respectively.}, subject = {Optoelectronic Devices; Heterostructure; Transparent Conducting Oxides (TCOs); Photoelectron Spectroscopy; GaN; Transparente leitende Oxide (TCOs),; Photoelektronenspektroskopie; In₂O₃; Heterostruktur; Optoelektronische Bauelemente; Heterostruktur; Transparent-leitendes Oxid; Optoelektronisches Bauelement; Photoelektronenspektroskopie}, language = {en} }