Recent advances and perspectives on Sb₂S₃ thin-film solar cells

In recent years, antimony-based chalcogenides have gained attention as exciting prospects for next-generation thin-film photovoltaics. Binary Sb₂S₃ thin films are up-and-coming for optoelectronic applications due to their remarkable stability, simple composition, suitable charge transport, and facile and cost-effective synthesis. Contrary to other well-established chalcogenide-based solar cells, the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of Sb₂S₃ solar cells is significantly lower. In light of this, it is imperative to perform a thorough summary and exploration of the performance of Sb₂S₃ thin-film solar cells, identify the primary issues, and develop viable solutions to enhance their PCE. This review thoroughly analyzed Sb₂S₃ photovoltaic devices, revealing their significant advances and challenges in the last decade. This review thoroughly analyzes and discusses the most recent developments in Sb₂S₃ solar cells, including their properties, fabrication processes, and engineering strategies established to improve efficiency. In conclusion, the outlook and prospects for the further advancement of Sb₂S₃ solar cells are discussed.