Tandem solar cells usually use a wide band gap absorber for top cell. The band gap of CuIn_(1−x)Ga_xSe₂ can be changed from 1.04 eV to 1.68 eV with the ratio of Ga/(In+Ga) from 0 to 1. When the ratio of Ga/(In+Ga) is over 0.7, the band gap of CIGS absorber is over 1.48 eV. CIGS absorber with a high Ga content is a possible candidate one for the top cell. In this work, CuInGa precursors were prepared by magnetron sputtering with CuIn and CuGa targets, and CIGS absorbers were prepared by selenization annealing. The Ga/(In+Ga) is changed by changing the thickness of CuIn and CuGa layers. Additionally, CIGS solar cells were prepared using CdS buffer layer. The effects of Ga content on CIGS thin film and CIGS solar cell were studied. The band gap was measured by PL and EQE. The results show that using structure of CuIn/CuGa precursors can make the band gap of CIGS present a gradient band gap, which can obtain a high open circuit voltage and high short circuit current of the device. With the decrease in Ga content, the efficiency of the solar cell increases gradually. Additionally, the highest efficiency of the CIGS solar cells is 11.58% when the ratio of Ga/(In+Ga) is 0.72. The value of Voc is 702 mV. CIGS with high Ga content shows a great potential for the top cell of the tandem solar cell.

In this work, we propose a method to prepare large-area, crystalline ultrathin rare-earth (RE, i.e., Eu, Yb, Er and Tb)-doped MoS₂ thin films, using magnetron sputtering and subsequent Ar + H₂ annealing. The film thickness of as-deposited samples varied from 60 to 100 nm, and decreases to be below 10 nm after annealing at 550 °C for 30 min. X-ray diffraction and Raman spectra analysis revealed that the sample films were crystallized after the annealing, which resulted in a MoS₂ crystallite size of about 4–5 nm. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy indicated that most of the RE ions existed in the films in trivalent states. The optical bandgap of the RE-doped MoS₂ samples decreased from 1.6 eV (undoped) to 1.3 eV (Eu-doped) in the UV-vis absorption spectra. Electrical measurements showed that the electrical resistance decreased from 9.13 MΩ (undoped) to 0.34 MΩ (Yb-doped), the carrier density increased by one to two orders of magnitude and the carrier mobility decreased from 5.4 cm²/V·s (undoped) to 0.65 cm²/V·s (Yb-doped). The sign of the Hall coefficients indicated that the undoped MoS₂ and the Yb-, Tb- and Er-doped MoS₂ samples were n-type semiconductors, while the Eu-doped sample showed p-type characteristics. This study may be helpful to broaden the photoelectronic applications of these two-dimensional materials.

The tunable bandgap of CIGSe has established bandgap engineering as a pivotal research direction for advancing the efficiency frontiers of solar cells. In particular, the proposal of the V-shaped bandgap gradient has motivated extensive efforts to achieve precise control over elemental composition and spatial distribution within the absorber layer. Against this backdrop, this review systematically classifies active control strategies—such as surface sulfurization, Ga grading, and Ag alloying—according to their doping mechanisms and the resulting bandgap profiles. It further evaluates emerging profiles, including the “hockey-stick” distribution, against the conventional V-shaped benchmark, and explores future pathways for bandgap engineering in next-generation, high-efficiency photovoltaic devices. Further improvements in photovoltaic efficiency can effectively boost power generation and lower solar power costs, providing a practical solution to future energy and environmental challenges.

Ge-doped CIGSe absorbers were fabricated using a two-step process of depositing sputtered stacked Ge-doped CIGSe precursors and selenization annealing. The effects of Ge doping on the crystallinity as well as defects of CIGSe absorbers and the performance of CIGSe buffer-free solar cells were investigated. The results show that Ge doping significantly promotes the grain growth of CIGSe absorbers. Due to Ge loss via volatilization during selenization annealing, Ge residue is undetectable in Ge-doped absorbers. Ge doping offers an effective approach to improve CIGSe crystallinity without introducing notable impurity phases or Ge-related defects. However, Ge doping also induces Se loss, and excessive Se vacancy defects adversely affect the performance of the absorber. In addition, Ge doping increases the contact potential difference at CIGSe grain boundaries and is beneficial for reducing carrier recombination at these sites. Analysis of recombination rates in Ge-doped CIGSe buffer-free solar cells reveals that the combined effects of enhanced crystallinity and optimized electrical properties at grain boundaries effectively suppress the recombination in the space charge region, at the interface, and in the quasi-neutral region, leading to improved device performance.

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