Hydrothermal Synthesis and Evaluation of the Cu2ZnSnS4 for Photovoltaic Applications

Abstract

The research focused on the hydrothermal synthesis of a material based on a Kesterite structure of Cu 2 ZnSnS 4 (CZTS). For this purpose, the component cations, in concentrations of 1.0 molL -1 , were placed in a steel autoclave under different temperatures conditions (200, 220, 240, 260 and 280°C) for 32 h. After, the solids were calcined at 400°C for 2 h. UV-VIS results showed that materials had a strong tendency to absorb in the region of 600-800 nm, with band-gap around 1.54 eV. XRD and Raman confirmed a structure with tetragonal geometry, preferably oriented along the (112) facet, as well as low frequency vibrational and rotational modes typical of CZTS. TEM showed nanometric crystallites (≈41.6). XPS showed the Cu 2+ , Sn 4+ , Zn 2+ and S 4species in correspondence with its main oxidation states. The electrical analysis, allowed to evaluate the behavior under load conditions, suggesting a potential use these materials for photovoltaic applications.

Optically Important Cu2 ZnSnS4 (CZTS) Nanoparticles Synthesis using a Hydrothermal Route with Citric acid as a Structure Directing Agent

“…For instance, CA has been used in the synthesis of mesoporous metal oxides, including TiO 2 , ZrO 2 , and Fe 2 O 3 , with high surface area and controlled porosity for various applications, such as catalysis and energy storage [36][37] . CA has also been used as an SDA in synthesising organic-inorganic hybrid materials, such as hybrid perovskites, by coordinating with metal ions and stabilising the resulting materials [38][39] .…”

“…Third, CA allows for the precise control of size, shape, and properties of the resulting materials, enabling tailored materials design. The use of citric acid as a structure directing agent offers a sustainable and versatile approach for materials synthesis, with potential applications in diverse fields including catalysis, energy storage 39 .…”