Earth-Abundant Materials for Solar Cells - Cu2-II- IV-VI4 Semiconductors

The purpose of this book is two fold: to describe the key properties of Cu 2-II-IV-VI 4 quaternary semi conductors, particularly Cu 2ZnSnS 4 and Cu 2ZnSnSe 4; and (2) to present various material parameters and constants of these semiconductors for a variety of basic research and device applications. The following material parameters and properties of these semiconductors are considered: structural properties (of bulk quaternaries also nanocrystalline materials and solid solutions) thermal properties elastic, mechanical, and lattice dynamic properties electronic energy-band structure consequences optical properties carrier transport properties. This book summarizes the important theoretical and experimental data on the material parameters and properties, in both graphical and tabular form. It covers not only technologically very important Cu 2ZnSnS 4 and Cu 2ZnSnSe 4 quaternary alloys but also other quaternaries (Cu 2ZnSiS 4, Cu 2CdGeTe 4, etc.) and pentanaries (Cu 2CdGe xSn 1 - xS 4, Cu 2ZnSn(S xSe 1 - x) 4, etc.). Intended for scientists and engineers, in particular, in the fields of multinary semiconductor physics and a variety of photovoltaic and optoelectronic devices.