Understanding Local Crystallography in Solar Cell Absorbers with Scanning Electron Diffraction.

ABSTRACT: In thin film photovoltaic devices, the control of grain structure and local crystallography are fundamental for high power conversion efficiency and reliable long-term operation. Structural defects, grain boundaries, and unwanted phases can stem from compositional inhomogeneities or from specific synthesis parameters, and they need to be thoroughly understood and carefully engineered. However, comprehensive studies of the crystallographic properties of complex systems, including different phases and/or a large number of grains, are often prohibitively challenging. Here, the use of 4D Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy (4D-STEM) is demonstrated on cross-sections to unravel the nanoscale properties of three different materials for photovoltaics: Cu(In,Ga)S₂, halide perovski

SUBMITTER: Griesi A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12641347 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature