Mechanical induced doping of ZnO powders for photovoltaic applications

L. C. DAMONTE; M.D.REYES TOLOSA; J. OROZCO-MESSANA; M.A.HERNÁNDEZ-FENOLLOSA

Simposio; 18th International Symposium on Metastable, Amorphous and Nanostructured Materials, (ISMANAM 2011); 2011

It is well known that the addition of small quantities of dopant on zinc oxide nano-particles modify their optical and electrical properties. In particular, solar cells efficiency may increase by the incorporation of donors/acceptors levels inside the bandgap. Nanocrystalline In doped ZnO powders were prepared by mechanical milling. According to initial conditions (precursor, concentrations, atmosphere, etc.) and milling times, different intermediate and final phases with distinct properties were obtained. We have performed structural and optical characterization of the resulting doped-ZnO powders by means of X-Ray Diffraction, Positron Annihilation Lifetime Spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy and Optical Reflection Spectroscopy. Also, the substitution of Zn by In atoms has also been checked using Perturbed Angular Correlation (TDPAC) spectroscopy. Both doped and un-doped ZnO nanocrystalline powders can be used as inorganic constituent in hybrid solar cells by means of different assembling methods.