Understanding solar cell materials – new possibilities with x-ray based spectroscopies

Generally optoelectronic devices, such as solar cells, are composed of a number of different materials each with specific properties that may be tailored by controlling composition, structure, morphology and dimension. This complexity inevitably requires each individual component to be understood in the bulk limit, as well as in terms of its interaction with the other components, i.e. interfaces become crucial. Ideal tools for such chemical and electronic structure characterization at an atomic level are spectroscopies using X-rays. The presentation will cover new opportunities with x-ray based spectroscopies for investigating solar cell materials ranging from fundamental studies of materials to studies on systems in operando.