Effect of Ag doping on the performance of Cu2SnS3 thin-film solar cells.

• CuxAg 2−x SnS 3 (CATS) thin-films were designed and fabricated for photovoltaic applications. • Proper Ag doping can lead to both higher J SC and FF of the solar cells. • A efficiency of 3.99% was achieved for 0.16-CATS solar cells. For the promising next-generation thin-film solar cells, Cu 2 SnS 3 (CTS) solar cells still suffer from low open circuit voltage (V OC) and so resulting an unsatisfactory power conversion efficiency. Herein, Ag was introduced in solution-processed CTS thin films via adding AgNO 3 into precursor solution for photovoltaic devices. Compared with CTS, the V OC deficit for CuxAg 2−x SnS 3 (CATS) based cells could be effectively reduced for about 10 mV, together with the increased short circuit current density (J SC) and fill factor (FF), a power conversion efficiency of 3.99% was achieved. Such improved performance of CATS cells could be attributed to the improved crystallization, reduced shunting channels and the decreased band-gap of CATS films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]