Deposition of quaternary sputtered CIGS nanorods via glancing angle deposition. Issue 1 (8th November 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Brozak, Matthew; Cansizoglu, Hilal; Karabacak, Tansel
• Is Part Of: Physica status solidi. Volume 11:Issue 1(2017)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2016-11-08
• Subjects: CuInx Ga1−xSe2 -- semiconductors -- nanorods -- nanowires -- light trapping -- glancing angle deposition; Solid state physics -- Periodicals; 530.4105
• DOI: 10.1002/pssr.201600326
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1862-6254

Abstract

Abstract : Nanostructured materials have become an attractive alternative to their thin film and bulk counterparts in photovoltaic and photoconductivity research. This is mainly attributed to their superior optical and electrical properties. Light trapping in vertically aligned nanostructures results in high optical absorption and provides enhanced carrier collection by utilizing a fully depleted p–n‐junction between the anode and cathode via an isolated "capping" construction. The combination of these two features can potentially lead to the development of high efficiency nanostructured devices including solar cells, photodiodes, and photodetectors. Optical absorption proper ties of nanorod arrays of CuIn x Ga1– x Se2 (CIGS), a p‐type semiconductor with a wide band gap ranging from 1.0 eV to 1.7 eV, are compared to their thin film counterpart. Utilizing an RF sputtering system, a quaternary target, and glancing angle deposition (GLAD) technique, vertical arrays of CIGS nanorods were fabricated while conventional films were fabricated by normal incidence deposition. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images indicated a successful growth of CIGS nanorods. Optical absorption was found to be strongly altered by the presence of the nanorod structures through spectroscopic reflectometry. (© 2016 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH &Co. KGaA, Weinheim) Abstract : The first experimental results of quaternary sputtered CuIn x Ga1– x Se2 (CIGS) vertically aligned nanorods are presented. This was achieved by glancing angle deposition (GLAD) and is a self‐assembling nanostructured array. Measurements show that the optical absorption of the nanorods is increased over their thin film counterpart indicating enhanced diffuse light scattering characteristics.