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arXiv · 1812.06353

Enabling visible-light absorption and p-type doping in In2O3 by adding Bi

Fernando P. Sabino·Su-Huai Wei·Anderson Janotti
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Abstract

In2O3 is a prototype wide-band-gap semiconductor that exhibits metallic conductivity when highly doped with Sn while retaining a high degree of transparency to visible light. It is widely used as a transparent window/electrode in solar cells and LEDs. The functionality of In2O3 would be greatly extended if p-type conductivity could also be achieved. Using electronic structure calculations, we show that adding Bi to In2O3, in the form of dilute (In_{1-x}Bi_{x})_2O3} alloys, leads to a new valence band that is sufficiently higher in energy than the original O-2p valence band to allow for p-type doping. Moreover, the raised valence band in the (In_{1-x}Bi_{x})_2O3} dilute alloys leads to strong optical absorption in the visible spectrum, opening up for new applications such as a wide band gap absorber layer in tandem solar cells.

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Fernando P. Sabino, Su-Huai Wei, Anderson Janotti. 2018-12-15. Enabling visible-light absorption and p-type doping in In2O3 by adding Bi. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevmaterials.3.034605

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