Advances and Perspectives in Kesterite Solar Cells

This presentation explores the critical role of kesterite Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 (CZTSSe) solar cells in advancing sustainable energy solutions. Kesterites are highlighted for their environmental friendliness, low cost, high stability, and tunable bandgap, making them promising candidates for applications such as tandem devices, flexible solar cells, and indoor photovoltaics. Despite their potential, challenges like the Voc deficit and efficiency gaps compared to commercial CIGS solar cells—the thin-film technology from which kesterites are conceptually derived—persist. Innovative strategies to address these limitations are examined, including doping, advanced growth techniques, and defect engineering. The development of no toxic alternative buffer layers using ALD technique and scalable processing methods are also discussed as critical steps towards improving efficiency and scalability. Furthermore, state-of-the-art tandem architectures combining perovskites and kesterites are presented, demonstrating their compatibility and potential for enhanced performance. This work highlights the pivotal role of CZTSSe among emerging solar cell technologies, emphasizing its evolution from CIGS and its potential to complement and diversify the photovoltaic landscape. By overcoming current technical challenges and intensifying research activities, kesterites could become one of the key players in the future of photovoltaics, contributing to a more sustainable and decarbonized energy future.