Sulfur Treatment Passivates Bulk Defects in Sb2Se3 Photocathodes for Water Splitting

Rajiv Ramanujam Prabhakar, Thomas Moehl, Dennis Friedrich, Marinus Kunst, Sudhanshu Shukla, Damilola Adeleye, Vinayaka H. Damle, Sebastian Siol, Wei Cui, Laxman Gouda, Jihye Suh, Yaakov R. Tischler, Roel van de Krol, S. David Tilley

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Sb2Se3 has emerged as an important photoelectrochemical (PEC) and photovoltaic (PV) material due to its rapid rise in photoconversion efficiencies. However, Sb2Se3 has a complex defect chemistry, which reduces the maximum photovoltage. Thus, it is important to understand these defects and develop defect passivation strategies in Sb2Se3. A comprehensive investigation of the charge carrier dynamics of Sb2Se3 and the influence of sulfur treatment on its optoelectronic properties is performed using time-resolved microwave conductivity (TRMC), photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy, and low-frequency Raman spectroscopy (LFR). The key finding in this work is that upon sulfur treatment of Sb2Se3, the carrier lifetime is increased by the passivation of deep defects in Sb2Se3 in both the surface region and the bulk, which is evidenced by increased charge carrier lifetime of TRMC decay dynamics, increased radiative recombination efficiency, decreased deep defect level emission (PL), and the emergence of new vibration modes by LFR.

Original languageEnglish
Article number2112184
JournalAdvanced Functional Materials
Volume32
Issue number25
DOIs
StatePublished - 17 Jun 2022

Keywords

  • Sb Se
  • charge carrier dynamics
  • low-frequency Raman spectroscopy
  • photoluminescence spectroscopy
  • time-resolved microwave conductivity

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • General Chemistry
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • General Materials Science
  • Electrochemistry
  • Biomaterials

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