Ag‐Se Synergistic Diffusion for Highly Homogeneous Elemental Distribution and Significantly Improved ACZTSSe Solar Cells

ABSTRACT The performance of Cu 2 ZnSn(S x Se 1−x ) 4 (CZTSSe) solar cells is primarily limited by an inability to control the selenization process, where non‐uniform selenium distribution leads to profound Cu–Zn cation disorder and associated performance losses. Compositional engineering, such as in (Ag x Cu 1−x ) 2 ZnSn(S x Se 1−x ) 4 (ACZTSSe), can mitigate some defects; however, it fails to address the root cause: mastering the reaction kinetics to achieve elemental homogeneity. Herein, we introduce a self‐sacrificing Ag 2 Se layer on Mo substrates that enables a bottom‐up, cooperative Ag–Se diffusion pathway during grain growth. The rapid migration of Ag atoms modifies the local chemical environment, thereby acting as a kinetic driver that dramatically enhances the selenium diffusion flux. Molecular dynamics simulations confirm a 28.6% increase in the selenium diffusion coefficient ( D Se ), demonstrating that this kinetic enhancement activates the cooperative Ag–Se diffusion mechanism, thereby achieving a macroscopic improvement in material homogeneity. The resultant absorber exhibits an unprecedented, near‐linear elemental distribution, which effectively suppresses Cu‐related antisite defects (e.g., Cu Zn and Cu Sn ). This superior homogeneity minimizes bulk recombination and facilitates efficient carrier transport, thereby providing a fundamental basis for the enhancement of photoelectric properties. Consequently, the champion device treated with 65 nm Ag 2 Se (ASe 65) achieves a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 14.36% (certified as 13.91%), primarily due to a remarkable enhancement in short‐circuit current density ( J sc ) and fill factor (FF). This work not only provides a foundational understanding of cooperative diffusion chemistry, but also establishes a novel paradigm for manipulating reaction kinetics in solid‐state energy materials.

Authors

Institutions

Publication Details

Journal
Advanced Functional Materials
Published
2026-11-01
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.78915
Primary Topic
Chalcogenide Semiconductor Thin Films
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
article

Ag‐Se Synergistic Diffusion for Highly Homogeneous Elemental Distribution and Significantly Improved ACZTSSe Solar Cells

Chaoliang Zhao, Changyu Lu, Sixin Wu, Zhi Guo Zheng et al.
Advanced Functional Materials
Chalcogenide Semiconductor Thin Films
article

Ag‐Se Synergistic Diffusion for Highly Homogeneous Elemental Distribution and Significantly Improved ACZTSSe Solar Cells

Chaoliang Zhao, Changyu Lu, Sixin Wu, Zhi Guo Zheng, Erjun Zhou, Shanheng Zhao, Lijie Zhao, Mengyun Zhang, Zongtao Wang, Weiwei Dong, Junjie Fu, Jin Yang, Xiao Xu, Siyu Liu, Xiangru Wang
article en

Abstract

ABSTRACT The performance of Cu 2 ZnSn(S x Se 1−x ) 4 (CZTSSe) solar cells is primarily limited by an inability to control the selenization process, where non‐uniform selenium distribution leads to profound Cu–Zn cation disorder and associated performance losses. Compositional engineering, such as in (Ag x Cu 1−x ) 2 ZnSn(S x Se 1−x ) 4 (ACZTSSe), can mitigate some defects; however, it fails to address the root cause: mastering the reaction kinetics to achieve elemental homogeneity. Herein, we introduce a self‐sacrificing Ag 2 Se layer on Mo substrates that enables a bottom‐up, cooperative Ag–Se diffusion pathway during grain growth. The rapid migration of Ag atoms modifies the local chemical environment, thereby acting as a kinetic driver that dramatically enhances the selenium diffusion flux. Molecular dynamics simulations confirm a 28.6% increase in the selenium diffusion coefficient ( D Se ), demonstrating that this kinetic enhancement activates the cooperative Ag–Se diffusion mechanism, thereby achieving a macroscopic improvement in material homogeneity. The resultant absorber exhibits an unprecedented, near‐linear elemental distribution, which effectively suppresses Cu‐related antisite defects (e.g., Cu Zn and Cu Sn ). This superior homogeneity minimizes bulk recombination and facilitates efficient carrier transport, thereby providing a fundamental basis for the enhancement of photoelectric properties. Consequently, the champion device treated with 65 nm Ag 2 Se (ASe 65) achieves a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 14.36% (certified as 13.91%), primarily due to a remarkable enhancement in short‐circuit current density ( J sc ) and fill factor (FF). This work not only provides a foundational understanding of cooperative diffusion chemistry, but also establishes a novel paradigm for manipulating reaction kinetics in solid‐state energy materials.

Advanced Functional Materials
Henan University (CN), Jiaxing University (CN), Hangzhou Dianzi University (CN), Xuchang University (CN), Hebei GEO University (CN)
Openalex Percentile: Top 24%
Chalcogenide Semiconductor Thin Films
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.

Laika access coming soon