Impact of Precursor Compositions on the Structural and Photovoltaic Properties of Spray‐Deposited Cu₂ZnSnS₄ Thin Films

Abstract

Pure sulfide Cu2 ZnSnS4 thin films were fabricated on Mo-coated glass substrates by facile spray deposition of aqueous precursor solutions containing Cu(NO3 )2 , Zn(NO3 )2 , Sn(CH3 SO3 )2 , and thiourea followed by annealing at 600 °C. When a precursor solution containing a stoichiometric composition of Cu, Zn, and Sn was used, the resulting Cu2 ZnSnS4 thin film contained a Cu2-x S impurity phase owing to the evaporation of Sn components during the annealing process. The Cu2-x S impurity in the Cu2 ZnSnS4 thin film was removed by reducing the concentration of Cu in the precursor solution. This resulted in an improvement of the structural features (i.e., grain sizes and compactness) as well as the electric properties such as acceptor densities, the nature of the acceptor defects, and carrier lifetimes. A solar cell based on the Cu2 ZnSnS4 film with an empirically optimal composition showed conversion efficiency of 8.1 %. The value achieved was one of the best efficiencies of Cu2 ZnSnS4 -based cells derived from a non-vacuum process.

Sustainable Synthesis of Balsalazide and Sulfasalazine Based on Diazotization with Low Concentrations of Nitrogen Dioxide in Air

“…[27] This reaction is also of high industrial importance for the productiono fc opper(II) nitrate, which is used as ap recursor for ab road variety of coppero xide and Claycop catalysts, in materialss cience and as am ild nitration reagent. [28,29] The data summarized in Table 1s how that comparable or even better yields can be obtained in the 10 liter wet scrubber than in the small scale diazotization reactions (Scheme2).…”

“…For the synthesis of sulfasalazine, sulfanilic acid (6)w as used as starting material, as diazotization of the larger pyridinylsulfonamide (see dotted substructure of sulfasalazine (3), Figure 1) gave low yields and severals ide-reactions includingt he loss of SO 2 .I nt he next step, the diazotization reactions were transferred into a1 0liter wet scrubber miniplant( see Supporting Information for pictures of the setup). [28,29] The data summarized in Table 1s how that comparable or even better yields can be obtained in the 10 liter wet scrubber than in the small scale diazotization reactions (Scheme2). [27] This reaction is also of high industrial importance for the productiono fc opper(II) nitrate, which is used as ap recursor for ab road variety of coppero xide and Claycop catalysts, in materialss cience and as am ild nitration reagent.…”

Effect of deposition temperature on the growth mechanism of chemically prepared CZTGeS thin films

“…There are numerous methods for deposition of Cu 2 ZnSnGeS 4 (CZTGeS) thin films, which including the magnetron sputtering, colloidal synthesis, knife coating, solvothermal synthesis, spray pyrolysis, etc. The last method attracts a considerable attention because it is easy to implement, it has a high controllability of parameters and requires a cheap manufacturing equipment . Nevertheless, the substitution mechanism of Sn by Ge in CZTGeS thin films, obtained at different deposition temperatures by the method of spray pyrolysis, is not sufficiently studied yet.…”

“…The last method attracts a considerable attention because it is easy to implement, it has a high controllability of parameters and requires a cheap manufacturing equipment. 18,19 Nevertheless, the substitution mechanism of Sn by Ge in CZTGeS thin films, obtained at different deposition temperatures by the method of spray pyrolysis, is not sufficiently studied yet.…”

All‐Layer Sputtering‐Free Cu2Zn1‐xCdxSnS4 Solar Cell with Efficiency Exceeding 7.5%

“…Recently, the efficiency record for pure‐sulfide CZTS has already exceeded 10% . Besides, many solution‐based methods have been reported that high‐quality CZTS film can be fabricated via non‐sputtering processes, indicating the possibility of sputtering‐free CZTS solar cells . For a typical CZTS solar cell, the fabrication of both ZnO window layer and transparent top contact relays on sputtering technique, although the fabrication of CZTS film can be solution‐processed.…”