Role of triethanolamine in forming Cu ₂ ZnSnS ₄ nanoparticles during solvothermal processing for solar cell applications

Abstract

Summary Herein, Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) nanoparticles were synthesized utilizing different amounts of triethanolamine (TEA) (2, 3, 4, and 5 mg/mL) via a simple solvothermal method. The TEA concentration's influence on the structure, phase formation, morphology, and composition of the CZTS nanoparticles was studied using various experimental techniques. XRD and Raman spectroscopy analyses indicated that the obtained product consisted of single‐phase CZTS nanoparticles with a kesterite structure and average crystal size of 33 to 43 nm; no secondary phases were detected. The TEM analysis revealed the powder nature of the nanoparticles and confirmed their crystallinity. The Zn‐rich and Cu‐poor composition and high sample purity were detected using EDX and confirmed by XPS analysis. The nanoparticles' energy band was between 1.54 and 1.75 eV, and their absorption coefficient exceeded 104 cm−1 in the visible part of the electromagnetic spectrum. FE‐SEM of the CZTS nanoparticles‐based thin film revealed its compact, smooth, and uniform morphology with no voids or cracks; the thin film was covered with grains approximately 3 μm in size. A devices with an SLG/Mo/CZTS/CdS/i‐ZnO/Al:ZnO/Al structure were fabricated using CZTS particles synthesized with a TEA concentration of 5 mg/mL, and the best device demonstrated a solar conversion efficiency of 4.33%.

Current Status of the Open-Circuit Voltage of Kesterite CZTS Absorber Layers for Photovoltaic Applications—Part I, a Review

“…Several research groups have reported results for CZTS-based solar cells fabricated by the solvothermal method [ 75 , 76 , 77 , 78 ]. To obtain CZTS absorber layers, firstly the solvothermally synthesized CZTS nanoparticles are dispersed in solvents to create a paste or ink.…”

“…The fabricated glass/FTO/CZTS/CdS/i-ZnO/AleZnO/Ag solar cells were characterized by an optical bandgap of 1.52 eV and a poor power conversion efficiency of only 0.16%. Using the solvothermal method, Al-Hadeethi et al studied the impact of the concentration of triethanolamine (TEA) on the structure, phase formation, morphology, and composition of the resulting CZTS nanoparticles [ 78 ]. The authors fabricated a SLG/Mo/CZTS/CdS/i-ZnO/Al:ZnO/Al structure using CZTS particles synthesized with a TEA concentration of 5 mg/mL, and the best demonstrated solar conversion efficiency was reported to be 4.33%.…”