Zinc antimonite synthesis and assessment of its potential for sustainable photovoltaics

Research in photovoltaics is motivated by the need for sustainable electricity sources. Yet, current commercial technologies require complex supply chains and feature an incomplete recycling [1]. Thus, new approaches for designing solar cells are needed. This work proposes a photovoltaic device designed through a low-tech approach. The semiconductor central to the cell, zinc antimonite, finds applications in thermoelectricity. However, its use for photovoltaics was suggested within the low-tech community [2]. The semiconductor is synthesized by electrodeposition of zinc and antimony on fluorine-doped tin oxide or copper. The plasma treatment of fluorine-doped tin oxide is found to greatly improve the layer quality. However, the films contain too little zinc for proper synthesis of Zn4Sb3 . The right parameters for deposition remain to be determined. The components’ ecotoxicity and end-of-life management require special attention in the future. Film deposition will be optimized. Alternative processes and materials need evaluation from a sustainability perspective.