Cu₂ZnSnS₄(CZTS) Application in TiO₂Solar Cell as Dye

Abstract

Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS), a quaternary semiconductor, is a promising absorber material for solar cell due to its abundance and low toxicity. In this study, a CZTS/TiO2 solar cell was fabricated successfully to investigate its photovoltaic behavior. In this solar cell, CZTS acts as an absorber material to replace an organic or organometallic dye in TiO2 dye-sensitized solar cell. This cell has an open circuit voltage of 631 mV under 1 Sun of 100 mW/cm2 illumination. The internal resistance of CZTS/TiO2 cell was also studied at different applied bias in dark using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. A short diffusion length of electrons in this cell was found.

Size‐Controlled Synthesis of Ag8SnS6 Nanocrystals for Efficient Photoenergy Conversion Systems Driven by Visible and Near‐IR Lights

“…Recently, high-quality multinary semiconductor NCs of Cu-or Ag-based metal sulfi des composed of less toxic and earth-abundant elements, such as CuInS 2 , [ 7 ] Cu 2 ZnSnS 4 , [ 8 ] Cu 2 SnS 3 , [ 9 ] Cu 3 SbS 4 , [ 10 ] AgInS 2 , [ 11 ] and Ag 2 ZnSnS 4 (AZTS), [ 12 ] which have wide adsorption bands with high absorption coeffi cients, have been developed as alternatives to highly toxic semiconductor NCs. For example, Cu 2 ZnSnS 4 NCs have been utilized as a sensitizer from visible to near-IR light in QDSSCs with recorded power conversion effi ciency of 0.29%, [ 13 ] while thin-fi lm solar cells with conversion effi ciency of 7.2% have been prepared by deposition of Cu 2 ZnSnS 4 NCs followed by sintering. [ 14 ] Although the application of Cu-based NCs to solar cells has been extensively investigated, there have been few wileyonlinelibrary.com www.particle-journal.com www.MaterialsViews.com COMMUNICATION that the target compound was formed with a slightly smaller Ag/Sn ratio than the stoichiometric ratio (Ag/Sn = 8.0), even though the prepared particles exhibited XRD patterns assignable to the orthorhombic crystal structure of Ag 8 SnS 6 .…”

“…[ 6 ] Most of the conventional NCs studied contain highly toxic elements, such as Cd, Pb, Se, and Te, and the range of their use in practical applications is becoming more limited due to recent environment regulations.Recently, high-quality multinary semiconductor NCs of Cu-or Ag-based metal sulfi des composed of less toxic and earth-abundant elements, such as CuInS 2 , [ 7 ] Cu 2 ZnSnS 4 , [ 8 ] Cu 2 SnS 3 , [ 9 ] Cu 3 SbS 4 , [ 10 ] AgInS 2 , [ 11 ] and Ag 2 ZnSnS 4 (AZTS), [ 12 ] which have wide adsorption bands with high absorption coeffi cients, have been developed as alternatives to highly toxic semiconductor NCs. For example, Cu 2 ZnSnS 4 NCs have been utilized as a sensitizer from visible to near-IR light in QDSSCs with recorded power conversion effi ciency of 0.29%, [ 13 ] while thin-fi lm solar cells with conversion effi ciency of 7.2% have been prepared by deposition of Cu 2 ZnSnS 4 NCs followed by sintering. [ 14 ] Although the application of Cu-based NCs to solar cells has been extensively investigated, there have been few…”

Suppression of charge recombination by application of Cu2ZnSnS4-graphene counter electrode to thin dye-sensitized solar cells

“…back to Istate. Iin the redox electrolyte transport electrons into the valence band of CZTS, the photo-generated holes oxidize Iions to I 3 state, resulting in the regeneration of electrolyte [36]. We believe that, for thick TiO 2 films, the loading dye absorbs most of the incident light, such that the CZTS-graphene will act as a Pt CE to collect electrons from the external circuit and catalyze the reduction of the triiodide ions in the electrolyte.…”

In-situ growth of Cu2ZnSnS4 nanosheets on TiO2 nanowires for enhanced photoelectrochemical performance

“…Recently, CZTS has been reported as a counter electrode in a TiO 2 dye sensitized solar cell(DSSC) to replace expensive platinum counter electrode, which yields a photoelectric conversion efficiency similar to that of the Pt counter electrode [23][24] . Wang [25] and Li [26] et al …”

“…6c As mentioned above, the CZTS/TiO 2 NWs hetrostructure is proved to be one of the ideal structures for PEC water splitting. A schematic diagram about charge transfer processes and energy gap structures [25,35] of the CZTS/TiO 2 NWs heterostructure electrode is shown in Fig. 8.…”