Defect physics of the quasi-two-dimensional photovoltaic semiconductor GeSe

GeSe has recently emerged as a photovoltaic absorber material due to its attractive optical and electrical properties as well as earth abundancy and low toxicity. However, the efficiency of GeSe thin-film solar cells (TFSCs) is still low compared to the Shockley-Queisser limit. Point defects are believed to play important roles in the electrical and optical properties of GeSe thin films. Here, we perform first-principles calculations to study the defect characteristics of GeSe. Our results demonstrate that no matter under the Ge-rich or Se-rich condition, the Fermi level is always located near the valence band edge, leading to the p-type conductivity of undoped samples. Under Se-rich condition, the Ge vacancy (V_Ge) has the lowest formation energy, with a (0/2-) charge-state transition level at 0.22 eV above the valence band edge. The high density (above 10¹⁷ cm^-3) and shallow level of V_Ge imply that it is the p-type origin of GeSe. Under Se-rich growth condition, Se_i has a low formation energy in the neutral state, but it does not introduce any defect level in the band gap, suggesting that it neither contributes to electrical conductivity nor induces non-radiative recombination. In addition, Ge_i introduces a deep charge-state transition level, making it a possible recombination center. Therefore, we propose that the Se-rich condition should be adopted to fabricate high-efficiency GeSe solar cells.     

Defect properties of CuCrO₂:A density functional theory calculation

Using the first-principles methods,we study the formation energetics properties of intrinsic defects,and the charge doping properties of extrinsic defects in transparent conducting oxides CuCrO2.Intrinsic defects,some typical acceptortype,and donor-type extrinsic defects in their relevant charge state are considered.By systematically calculating the formation energies and transition energy,the results of calculation show that,V Cu,O i,and O Cu are the relevant intrinsic defects in CuCrO2 ;among these intrinsic defects,V Cu is the most efficient acceptor in CuCrO2.It is found that all the donor-type extrinsic defects have difficulty in inducing n-conductivity in CuCrO2 because of their deep transition energy level.For all the acceptor-type extrinsic defects,substituting Mg for Cr is the most prominent doping acceptor with relative shallow transition energy levels in CuCrO2.Our calculation results are expected to be a guide for preparing promising n-type and p-type materials in CuCrO2.     

Ⅱ-Ⅵ族碲化物体单晶低温光致发光谱研究

采用熔体法生长Ⅱ-Ⅵ族碲化物体单晶时,不同的生长条件及热经历过程会导致生长态晶体材料中,占主导的点缺陷类型存在较大的差异,进而影响了晶体的物理性能及器件的使用。低温光致发光(PL)谱作为一种无损检测方法,可以用于研究不同条件下生长的Ⅱ-Ⅵ族碲化物体单晶中的点缺陷和杂质的能级状态。对比富Te条件下生长的未掺杂ZnTe和CdTe晶体在8.6 K下的PL谱可以发现,电阻率较低的p型ZnTe晶体,其PL谱中,电子到中性受主复合发光峰(e, A0)强度高于施主-受主对复合发光峰(DAP),而高电阻率阻n型CdTe晶体则刚好相反,这可能是由于生长速率及降温过程的热经历不同导致占主导的本征点缺陷类型不同造成的。按化学计量比生长的未掺杂CdZnTe晶体,其PL谱中自由激子发光峰(D0, X)占主导,而(e, A0)峰强度高于DAP峰,变温PL谱测试表明当温度高于15 K时,(e, A0)峰与DAP峰逐渐叠加在一起。In掺杂导致在富Te条件下生长的CdZnTe晶体的PL谱中产生明显的A中心复合发光峰,与导带的能量差约为0.15 eV,主要与In补偿Cd空位形成的复合体[In+_CdV2-_Cd]-有关,且其强度与In掺杂元素的含量成正比。     

First-principles study of intrinsic defect properties in hexagonal BN bilayer and monolayer

The formation energies and transition energy levels of intrinsic defects in hexagonal BN (h-BN) bilayer and monolayer have been studied by first-principles calculations based on density functional theory. Our calculated results predict that excellent intrinsic p-type and n-type conductivities are very difficult to be realized in h-BN bilayer and monolayer. This is because of the high formation energies of acceptor-like defects (≥4.6 eV ) and the rather deep transition energy levels of donor-like defects (≥2.0 eV ). In order to obtain h-BN layers with more efficient p-type and n-type conductivity, extrinsic doping using foreign impurities is necessary.     

Defect properties of CuCrO2: A density functional theory calculation

Using the first-principles methods,we study the formation energetics properties of intrinsic defects,and the charge doping properties of extrinsic defects in transparent conducting oxides CuCrO2.Intrinsic defects,some typical acceptortype,and donor-type extrinsic defects in their relevant charge state are considered.By systematically calculating the formation energies and transition energy,the results of calculation show that,V Cu,O i,and O Cu are the relevant intrinsic defects in CuCrO2 ;among these intrinsic defects,V Cu is the most efficient acceptor in CuCrO2.It is found that all the donor-type extrinsic defects have difficulty in inducing n-conductivity in CuCrO2 because of their deep transition energy level.For all the acceptor-type extrinsic defects,substituting Mg for Cr is the most prominent doping acceptor with relative shallow transition energy levels in CuCrO2.Our calculation results are expected to be a guide for preparing promising n-type and p-type materials in CuCrO2.     

Stability and magnetism of vacancy in NiO: A GGA+U study

Native vacancy defects in typical strongly correlated oxides NiO have been investigated using the GGA+U method. The defect formation energies under different conditions are determined and magnetisms induced by vacancies are studied. Our results indicate that the predominant defect is Ni vacancy under oxygen-rich condition and the most stable ionization state varies with different Fermi level. The Ni vacancy forms shallow acceptor, suggesting the native p-type conductivity originates from the cation vacancy. In addition, after introducing a Ni vacancy, a half-metallic antiferromagnet or half-metallic ferromagnet can form according to different ionization state of cation vacancy.     

The mechanism of Li, N dual-acceptor co-doped p-type ZnO

The formation of single defects and defect complexes are investigated in Li, N co-doped ZnO by the first-principles plane wave method with projector augmented wave (PAW) pseudo-potential technology. We find that: (i) p-type conductivity could be achieved in single Li doped ZnO under an O-rich condition, since the formation energy of Li_Zn acceptor is much lower than the interstitial Li_i; (ii) the dual-acceptor complex Li_Zn-N_O is unlikely to form, and the good p-type conductivity is mainly attributed to the Li_Zn acceptor, even in Li, N co-doped ZnO; (iii) the additional introduction of N may help compensate the single Li_i donor defects under certain growth conditions, but its role in the p-type conductivity in ZnO remains to be clarified. PACS 71.15.Mb; 73.61.Ga; 71.15.Nc; 71.20.Nr; 71.55.Gs     

纤锌矿ZnO：Cu体系空位缺陷的电磁特性理论研究

ZnO:Cu体系具有p型导电性并出现室温铁磁性,但是对于其磁性来源还颇有争议.用Cu掺杂ZnO晶体容易增加空位缺陷产生的几率,从而使ZnO:Cu体系产生磁性.因此,本文采用基于密度泛函理论的第一性原理平面波超软赝势法对ZnO:Cu及其本征空位缺陷体系进行了理论研究,分别计算分析了ZnO:Cu超晶胞中相对Cu为近邻、次近邻、远近邻位置锌空位和氧空位的出现后体系的晶格结构、形成能、能带结构、态密度以及磁矩,以便准确合理地对其电磁特性进行判定.结果表明,ZnO:Cu远近邻VZn容易形成且其费米能级附近态密度较无缺陷体系增大,导电性增强;而含VO的缺陷体系禁带远远增大且变为间接带隙半导体,其费米能级处的态密度几乎不变或微弱减小,导电性无增强.Cu近邻VZn和VO的引入会导致ZnO:Cu掺杂系统的磁性相几乎或完全消失,但较远VO的出现无法显著改变磁性,较远VZn的出现使体系磁性增强.因此,在实验过程中要实现ZnO:Cu掺杂体系的良好电磁特性,应尽量避免Cu近邻VZn和VO的出现,而有效利用远近邻锌空位缺陷.     

Be,Mg,Mn掺杂CuInO_2形成能的第一性原理研究

研制开发新型的光电材料对促进社会经济发展具有重要的科学意义和实用价值.利用宽禁带CuInO_2铟基材料实现全透明光电材料是目前深入研究的热点.通过基于密度泛函的第一性原理计算方法,本文计算出掺杂元素Mg, Be, Mn在CuInO_2的形成能.计算结果表明,施主类缺陷(如掺杂元素替代Cu原子或进入间隙位置)由于较高的形成能和较深的跃迁能级,很难在CuInO_2材料中出现N型导电;而受主缺陷中,在氧原子化学势极大的情况下, Mg原子替代In能成为CuInO_2理想的受主缺陷.计算结果可为制备性能优异的CuInO_2材料提供指导.     

GGA+U方法研究ZnO孪晶界对V_(Zn)-N_O-H复合体对p型导电性的影响

采用基于密度泛函理论的广义梯度近似平面波赝势方法,探究四种ZnO-Σ7(1230)孪晶界中V_(Zn)-N_O-H复合体的电子结构和p型导电机理.计算结果表明,在ZnO-Σ7(1230)孪晶界中,N掺杂后会与锌空位(V_(Zn))、氢填隙(Hi)等点缺陷结合,进而形成V_(Zn)-N_O-H复合体,并出现在孪晶中的晶格应变集中区.此外,四种孪晶界中孪晶GB7a有利于V_(Zn)-N_O-H离化能降低,从而使其表现出浅受主特征.分析显示特殊的孪晶结构导致了氮替位(N_O)与近邻的O原子间距离缩短,阴离子之间发生相互作用,导致禁带中的空带能级下降,降低了电子跃迁所需能量.这一结果也说明GB7a孪晶界中的V_(Zn)-N_O-H可能成为N掺杂ZnO材料的p型导电的来源之一.     

Recent progress of the native defects and p-type doping of zinc oxide

Zinc oxide(ZnO) is a compound semiconductor with a direct band gap and high exciton binding energy.The unique property,i.e.,high efficient light emission at ultraviolet band,makes ZnO potentially applied to the short-wavelength light emitting devices.However,efficient p-type doping is extremely hard for ZnO.Due to the wide band gap and low valence band energy,the self-compensation from donors and high ionization energy of acceptors are the two main problems hindering the enhancement of free hole concentration.Native defects in ZnO can be divided into donor-like and acceptorlike ones.The self-compensation has been found mainly to originate from zinc interstitial and oxygen vacancy related donors.While the acceptor-like defect,zinc vacancy,is thought to be linked to complex shallow acceptors in group-VA doped ZnO.Therefore,the understanding of the behaviors of the native defects is critical to the realization of high-efficient p-type conduction.Meanwhile,some novel ideas have been extensively proposed,like double-acceptor co-doping,acceptor doping in iso-valent element alloyed ZnO,etc.,and have opened new directions for p-type doping.Some of the approaches have been positively judged.In this article,we thus review the recent(2011-now) research progress of the native defects and p-type doping approaches globally.We hope to provide a comprehensive overview and describe a complete picture of the research status of the p-type doping in ZnO for the reference of the researchers in a similar area.     

点缺陷对单层MoS2电子结构及光学性质的影响研究

采用基于第一性原理的贋势平面波方法,对不同类型点缺陷单层MoS2电子结构、能带结构、态密度和光学性质进行计算。计算结果表明：单层MoS2属于直接带隙半导体,禁带宽度为1.749ev,V-Mo缺陷的存在使得MoS2转化为间接带隙Eg=0.671eV的p型半导体,V-S缺陷MoS2的带隙变窄为Eg=0.974eV,S-Mo缺陷的存在使得MoS2转化为间接带隙Eg=0.482eV; Mo-S缺陷形成Eg=0.969eV直接带隙半导体,费米能级上移靠近价带。 费米能级附近的电子态密度主要由Mo的4d态和s的3p态电子贡献。光学性质计算表明：空位缺陷对MoS2的光学性质影响最为显著,可以增大MoS2的静态介电常数、折射率n0和反射率,降低吸收系数和能量损失。     

p型K:ZnO导电机理的第一性原理研究

基于密度泛函理论,利用局域密度近似的第一性原理平面波赝势方法,对掺K以及含有氢填隙(H_i)、氧空位(V_O)、锌填隙(Zn_i)和锌空位(V_Zn)的K:ZnO电子结构分别进行了研究.结果表明,1) 单独掺K可引入浅受主,但系统总能增高;2) K与H共掺可降低系统总能,提升稳定性;3) V_O在K+H:ZnO中的形成比Zn_i困难得多,二者都是 关键词： 氧化锌 p型 第一性原理 电子结构     

六方氮化硼单层中一种(CN)3VB缺陷的第一性原理计算

二维六方氮化硼(hBN)的点缺陷最近被发现可以实现室温下的单光子发射,而成为近年的研究热点.尽管其具有重要的基础和应用研究意义,hBN中发光缺陷的原子结构起源仍然存在争议.本文采用基于密度泛函理论的第一性原理计算,研究hBN单层中一种B空位附近3个N原子被C替代的缺陷(CN)3VB.在hBN的B空位处,3个N原子各自带一个在平面内的悬挂键及相应的未配对电子,而通过C替换可以消除未配对的电子.系统研究了(CN)3VB缺陷的几何结构、电子结构以及光学性质,结果表明,缺陷可以由一个对称的亚稳态经过原子结构弛豫变成1个非对称的、3个C原子连在一起的基态结构.缺陷的形成在hBN中引入了一些由缺陷悬挂σ键及重构的π键贡献的局域缺陷态.这些缺陷态可以导致能量阈值在2.58 eV附近的可见光内部跃迁.本文的工作有助于进一步理解hBN中点缺陷的构成及光学性质,为实验上探讨发光点缺陷的原子结构起源及其性质提供理论依据.     

Identification of Acceptor States in Li-N Dual-Doped p-Type ZnO Thin Films

Li-N dual-doped p-type ZnO （ZnO：（Li, N）） thin films are prepared by pulsed laser deposition. The optical properties are studied using temperature-dependent photoluminescence. The Lizn-No complex acceptor with an energy 1evel of 138 me V is identified from the free-to-neutral-acceptor （e, A0 ） emission. The Haynes factor is about 0.087 for the Lizn-No complex acceptor, with the acceptor bound-exciton binding energy of 12meV. Another deeper acceptor state located at 248 meV, also identified from the （e, A0） emission, is attributed to zinc vacancy acceptor. The two acceptor states might both contribute to the observed p-type conductivity in ZnO：（Li,N）.     

PAC study of intrinsic defects in germanium: Dependence on doping and defect production

Perturbed angular correlation of -rays has been used to study intrinsic defects in Ge. The neutrino-recoil technique in combination with electron-irradiation experiments in highly p-doped Ge shows a defect in close vicinity to the probe atom¹¹¹In. This defect can definitely be identified as an intrinsic one, very likely a vacancy. Comparing this result to those of electron-irradiation experiments in n- and lower p-doped samples where another defect signal appears, we suggest that due to the different position of the Fermi level another charge state of the probe atom-vacancy complex has also been detected.     

Binding energy of hydrogen-Cd vacancy complex in CdTe

The structural and electronic properties of hydrogen-Cd vacancy complex in CdTe have been studied by using density functional theory. Three typical complexes between hydrogen and Cd vacancy were found in our present study. The stablest complex P₂ was predicted by using the formation energy and the binding energy. We found that the formation of the complex is exothermic and its binding energy is extremely large. The analysis of the transition energy level indicates that the forming of the complex turns the double acceptors caused by Cd vacancy to be a single one. The position of the single acceptor deeper than the shallow acceptor derived from the cation vacancy. At the same time, the forming of the complex directly increases the lifetime of the minority carrier from decreasing its concentration. The mechanism of the hydrogen passivation effect was also briefly discussed in our present study.     

通过交替生长气氛调控N掺杂ZnO薄膜电学特性

使用分子束外延方法在c面蓝宝石衬底上生长了系列氮掺杂ZnO薄膜样品。在连续的富锌气氛环境中生长的样品,由于存在大量的施主缺陷,呈现n型电导。为了抑制施主缺陷带来的补偿效应,在生长过程中,通过周期性补充氧气,形成周期性的富氧气氛,缓解了氮掺杂浓度和施主缺陷浓度之间的矛盾。光致发光测量表明,通过交替生长气氛,氧空位和锌间隙等缺陷在薄膜中得到了显著抑制。通过交替生长气氛生长的外延薄膜的结晶质量也有所提高。样品显示出重复性较高的p型电导,载流子浓度可达到10¹⁶ cm^-3。周期性补氧调节生长气氛的生长方式是一种有效实现p型掺杂ZnO的方法。     

Efficient above-band-gap light emission in germanium Invited Paper

We report an above-band-gap radiative transition in the photoluminescence spectra of single crystalline Ge in the temperature range of 20-296 K. The temperature-independence of the peak position at ～0.74 eV is remarkably different from the behavior of direct and indirect gap transitions in Ge. This transition is observed in n-type, p-type, and intrinsic single crystal Ge alike, and its intensity decreases with the increase of temperature with a small activation energy of 56 meV. Some aspects of the transition are analogous to Ⅲ-Ⅴ semiconductors with dilute nitrogen doping, which suggests that the origin could be related to an isoelectronic defect.     

ZnO中Li相关缺陷结构性质

采用第一性原理量子力学分子动力学方法,基于32个原子的超原胞模型,计算了ZnO中各种Li相关缺陷的有关几何和电子结构。通过不同模型的计算分析表明,ZnO中Li杂质在间隙位上的总能比替位Zn格位的能量更低,但却形成施主能级。进一步通过构造Li替Zn位Li_Zn与不同本征缺陷所构成的复合体结构,并对模拟计算的结果进行分析比较得出,O反位O_Zn可与Li_Zn形成比Li间隙位更稳定的复合体,可高溶解度地稳定存在于ZnO中,并在禁带中产生受主能级,是较好的p型导电性候选缺陷。