Research activities of the
SOLID STATE PHYSICS AND THIN FILMS LABORATORY
Cadi Ayyad University
Marrakech-Morocco
Contact:
Prof. Abdelkader OUTZOURHIT
[email protected]
Solid State Physics and
Permanent researchers: 18
thin
films
laboratory
PhD students: 14
Research theme: renewable energies from
materials to systems
Creation date: 1984
Research
activities
Materials
Devices
Systemes
Photovoltaic materials and devices (Kesterites,
Perovskites, a-Si:H, hybride cells..)
Energy storage materials and technologies (nanofluids, nano-composites, electrode materials for
batteries and super capacitors (intercalated
graphite, graphene/oxide nanoparticles)
Integration of renewable energy systems:
desalination, decentralized electrification,
decentralized production of hydrogen..
Hybrid renewable energy systems and micro grids
Thin film Production
Facilities
Radio-frequency sputtering station with 3
targets.
Sequential deposition of 3 materials;
Reactive sputering: hydrogen, oxygen,
nitrogen.
Thermal evaporation(2)
Electrodeposition (Potentiostat/ Galvanostat PAR
273A)
Spin coating
Caracterisation Facilities
X-ray diffraction
DRX, GIDRX, X-ray reflectance
Spectrophotometer UV-VIS-NIR
With an integrating sphere(200nm-3200 nm).
Optical parameters: n, , d et Eg.
Colorimetric parameters
Electrical measurements as a function of
temperature.
Working temperature 10 K to 300K
I-V measurements
Capacitance and conductance measurements
Spectral response
Photo- electrochemical measurements (cyclic
voltammetry, corrosion, galvanostatic and
potentiostatic, and electrochemical impedance
measurements..)
Recent Research
Actvities of the Lab
1.Nano-structured materials
Nanostructured oxides for hybrid solar cells and photo catalysis
Fabrication methods
Chemical methods (spin-coating for films)
Electrochemical methods (nanowires, nanopourous matrices ,..)
Nanoporous alumina
ZnO nanorods
Potentiostat/
Galvanostat
WE
CE
RE
Nanoporous Titanium oxide
Air/O
2
H2 O
2. Nanofluides/
Objectives :
nanocomposites
Cu2O/Glycerol
Enhance thermal conductivity of fluids
Nanofluides
Enhance thermal energy storage capacity of
certain materials (nanocomposites)
Fabricate nano-fluides and nano-composites
Determine thermo-physical properties
Materials for super capacitors and battery
electrodes
450
105
400
Ex. Natural graphite
Cap. mAh/g
300
95
250
200
90
150
CAPACITY
100
85
CF
50
0
80
0
50
100
Cycle number
150
200
Coulombic Efciency (%)
100
350
3. I-III-VI2 Semi-conductors
Studied
Materials (thin films):
Cu(In,Ga)Se2 CuInTe2, CuAlTe2
4. II VI Semiconductors
Studied Materials: ZnS, ZnTe, CdS,
CdTe, a-CdTeO3
brut
recuit
* CdTe
+ ZnTe
CdxZn1-xTe
Sequential rf-sputtering+annealing
Intensit (ua)
RF-sputtering, CDB
+
20
30
40
2 (degrs)
50
60
5. Fabrication of Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) thin films
and solar cells
-Electro-deposition
-Spin coating without
sulfurization
Cu
Sn
Zn
S
Ag
ZnO:Al
ZnO:i
CdS
CZTS
Mo
6. Planar Heterojunction Perovskite solar ce
Perovskite structure
ABX3
A=CH3NH3
B=Pb,Sn
X=I, Br,Cl
Ag
CH3NH3Pb(I(1-x)Brx)3
ZnO
FTO
0,000008
Glass
0,000006
Dark
Light
current(A)
0,000004
0,000002
0,000000
No hole transporting layer
Needs further optimisation
For tandem cells
-0,000002
-0,000004
0,00
0,05
0,10
Applied voltage (V)
0,15
0,20
In collaboration with Faculty of
Sciences Gabes-Tunisia (PECVD)
Optimisation of the deposition
condition for Solar-grade Si thin
films
BO1
BO3
BO7
7. Hybrid Renewable Energy systems
Hybrid PV-Wind plant for
decentralized electrification
of Lkaria (Essaouira)
Monitoring of the Plant
Perspectives
Optimize CZTS cells(substitute S with Te,
improve crystallinity , reduce losses,..)
Optimize perovskite top cell (1.8 eV) for
tandem cells using Silicon hetero-junction Cells
as the bottom device
Si hetero-junction solar cells (Thin films on cSi)
a-Si:H solar cells with light trapping schemes
a-Si:H for BIPV (on ceramic tiles for example..)
