Spray pyrolysis approach to CZTSSe thin films. Influence of solvents on film characteristics

Abstract

The Cu 2 ZnSnS 4 (CZTS) thin films were deposited by means of spray pyrolysis technique on the Mo/glass substrate, which was heated in the air at a temperature of 320 °C. Samples were prepared using solutions with different solvents: dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), dimethylformamide (DMF) and water-alcohol (H 2 O-EtOH). Further, the CZTS films were selenized at a temperature of 540 °C. The influence of the solvents on the crystalline structure, phase composition and optical properties of the CZTS and CZTSSe films were investigated using XRD, scanning electron microscopy with EDX, Raman spectroscopy and UV-vis spectroscopy. The photo-activity of CZTSSe films was assessed by measuring the open-circuit potential (E oc ) values under illumination in an aqueous solution of 0.5 M Na 2 SO 4 . Pure kesterite phase Cu 2 ZnSnSe 3.2 S 0.8 (CZTSSe) with the p-type conductivity and an optical band gap in the range of 1.21-1.31 eV was obtained after the selenization. The CZTSSe films prepared using the DMF as a solvent showed the best phase purity, the lowest density of voids, the highest stability of photoelectrochemical response and the highest power conversion efficiency of fabricated photovoltaic device.

Investigating the Role of Selenium-Ion Concentration on Optoelectronic Properties of the Cu2ZnSn(S1–xSex)4 Thin Films

“…To date, various methods have been developed to synthesize CZTSSe thin films onto the Mo-coated glass substrate such as pulsed vapor deposition, spray pyrolysis, chemical vapor deposition, sputtering, and thermal evaporation . The vacuum-based technique requires a large vapor chamber, sophisticated instrumentation, and a hazardous chemical procedure to achieve the desired photovoltaic efficiency .…”

“…10 The CZTSSe thin films have potential applications because of the following advantages such as low-cost precursors and nontoxic nature; CZTSSe possesses p-type semiconducting behavior with an optimum band gap energy (eV) of 1.2−1.5 eV with a high absorption coefficient of 10 4 cm −1 in the visible region in the solar spectrum. 11 To date, various methods have been developed to synthesize CZTSSe thin films onto the Mo-coated glass substrate such as pulsed vapor deposition, 12 spray pyrolysis, 13 chemical vapor deposition, 14 sputtering, 15 and thermal evaporation. 16 The vacuum-based technique requires a large vapor chamber, sophisticated instrumentation, and a hazardous chemical procedure to achieve the desired photovoltaic efficiency.…”

Efficient catalytic activity of NiO and CeO2 films in benzoic acid removal using ozone

“…13,14 Compared to these methods, spray pyrolysis has some advantages, including simple operation, higher stability of the obtained coatings, adaptability (for preparing single and multi-layered lms), and an openatmosphere process. 15,16 Recently, the ultrasonic spray pyrolysis method has been used to create a wide variety of thin lms, and their properties depend on a set of controllable parameters, such as substrate temperature, 17 solution concentration, 18 carrier gas ratio, 19 solvent type, 20 nozzle-substrate distance, 21 and deposition time. 22 These parameters can be modulated to generate various nanostructures, crystal orientations, and single and multi-layered lms.…”

Overcoming Limitations in Water–Ethanol Sprayed Superstrate Solar Cells by Compositional Engineering of Cu2CdSn(S,Se)4

“…The maximum efficiencies in this class of solar cells have been obtained by spin coating, , while other scalable methods such as inkjet printing, spray coating, or spray pyrolysis also demonstrated high efficiencies. Spray pyrolysis is particularly interesting due to its simplicity, high throughput, and low material usage, while benign solvents such as water and ethanol or its binary solvents result in homogeneous films. − …”