Abstract:
This paper presents a combinatorial method for the deposition and
characterization of new metallic precursors for photovoltaic materials.
Onedimensional thin film alloy “libraries” were electrodeposited on Mo-coated
glass. The library elements were deposited in two consecutive baths and then
heated in a reducing atmosphere to promote interdiffusion of the elements. At
the end of this process, the libraries possessed a composition gradient along
their lengths, with single elements at their two opposite ends and one or more
alloys and/or a solid state solution in between. This continuous range of
compositions can therefore be considered a collection of specific precursors
that can be interrogated by examining their corresponding locations, with the
crystallographic structure along the library changing in accordance with the
phase diagram for the metals. The libraries were then sulphurised or selenised
by heating in a sulphur-rich or selenium rich atmosphere; this converted the
metallic precursors in a continuous range of materials, candidates for potential
solar cells absorbers. The libraries were analysed by X-ray diffraction and
energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry. The X-ray diffraction results show phase
changes across the libraries, which can be correlated with the original
precursor concentration at that particular po
