Bismuth Sulfide and Antimony Sulfide-Based Solar Cells: A Review

Abhijit T. Supekar1,2

Pankaj K. Bhujbal2,3

Supriya A. Salunke2

Sopan M. Rathod1

Shashikant P. Patole4

Habib M. Pathan2,4,*,Email

Abasaheb Garware Arts and Science College, Pune, 411004, India
Advanced Physics Laboratory, Department of Physics, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune, 411007, India
Department of Applied Physics, Defence Institute of Advanced Technology, Pune, 411025, India
Department of Physics, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, Abu Dhabi, 127788, United Arab Emirates

 

Abstract

Quantum dot-sensitized solar cells are the most promising alternative to third-generation solar cells due to their versatile properties, such as maximum light-harvesting ability, tunable absorption range, solution processability, and good stability, compared to organic dyes. Various narrow band gap semiconducting materials are available to sensitize wide band gap semiconducting materials. CdS, PbS, CdSe, CdTe, Bi2S3, Sb2S3, etc., are used as sensitizers among all of these sensitizers. Bismuth Sulfide (Bi2S3) and antimony sulfide (Sb2S3) are the most promising but less studied compounds due to their lower stability with liquid electrolytes. As compared to other metal chalcogenides Bi2S3 and Sb2S3 are less toxic. Both are the most abundant elements, band gap of Bi2S3 and Sb2Sis suitable for optoelectronic devices. In the present review, we discuss various optoelectronic properties of Bi2S3 and Sb2S3, synthesis techniques, properties of the material, cell fabrication, and stability issues of Bi2S3, Sb2S3 based solar cells, and some strategies that improve the performance of Bi2S3- and Sb2S3 based solar cells.