(133e) Photoluminescence and Photoconductivity:Secret Weapons to Engineer Printable Photovoltaics Based on CZTS, CIGS, and Hybrid Perovskites

The cost of electricity from solar cells has dropped dramatically over the past decade. However, the large capital cost of manufacturing significantly inhibits the growth rate of solar energy sector and is much higher than the capital cost of non-renewables. By developing new chemistry and processing routes that enable solar cells to be printed with roll-to-roll processing, the capital cost of solar energy could be significantly reduced. However, photovoltaic device development with new materials is time consuming and expensive. To address this, we have pioneered new photoluminescence and photoconductivity methods that allow one to rapidly and reliably determine photovoltaic performance metrics directly from the material (without making a photovoltaic device). Along with a novel combinatorial spray coating deposition system we have developed, these methods have enabled us to explore tens of thousands of compositions of solution processed semiconductors. The presentation will focus on the current status of photovoltaics, fundamental principles of photovoltaics, our new methods, and their impact on the development of new ink-based routes to chalcopyrites (CIGS), Earth abundant element kesterites (CZTS), and most recently, hybrid perovskites and tandem solar cells.