A chemical approach for synthesis of photoelectrochemically active Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) thin films

M. P. Suryawanshi, S. W. Shin, U. V. Ghorpade, K. V. Gurav, G. L. Agawane, Chang Woo Hong, Jae Ho Yun, P. S. Patil, Jin Hyeok Kim, A. V. Moholkar

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38 Scopus citations

Abstract

A cost-effective chemical approach is developed for the synthesis of photoelectrochemically active Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) thin films. More specifically, CZTS precursor thin films are prepared by the sequential deposition of Cu2SnS3 and ZnS layers using a successive ionic adsorption and reaction (SILAR) technique. The CZTS precursor thin films are sulfurized at different temperatures ranging from 500 to 575°C at intervals of 25°C. The influence of different sulfurization temperatures on the structural, compositional, morphological, and optical properties, as well as on the photoelectrochemical performance is studied. The films sulfurized at 575°C showed a prominent kesterite phase with a nearly stoichiometric composition, dense microstructure with the desired thickness, and an optical band gap energy of 1.47eV. The photoelectrochemical (PEC) cell fabricated using CZTS thin film sulfurized at 575°C showed the highest short circuit current density (Jsc) of 8.27mA/cm2 with a power conversion efficiency (η) of 1.06%.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)221-230
Number of pages10
JournalSolar Energy
Volume110
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 1 2014

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This work was supported by the Human Resources Development program (No.: 20124010203180 ) from the Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning (KETEP) grant funded by the Korea government Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and supported partially by the University Grant Commission (UGC), New Delhi through the major research project F. No. 41-945/2012 (SR).

Publisher Copyright:
© 2014 Elsevier Ltd.

Keywords

  • 1.06% Conversion efficiency
  • CuZnSnS (CZTS)
  • Novel approach of successive ionic adsorption and reaction (SILAR)
  • TFSCs

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