This paper provides an overview of the physical vapor technologies used to synthesize Cu 2 ZnSn(S,Se) 4 thin films as absorber layers for photovoltaic applications. Through the years, CZT(S,Se) thin films have been fabricated using sequential stacking or co-sputtering of precursors as well as using sequential or co-evaporation of elemental sources, leading to high-efficient solar cells. In addition, pulsed laser deposition of composite targets and monograin growth by the molten salt method were developed as alternative methods for kesterite layers deposition. This review presents the growing increase of the kesterite-based solar cell efficiencies achieved over the recent years. A historical description of the main issues limiting this efficiency and of the experimental pathways designed to prevent or limit these issues is provided and discussed as well. A final section is dedicated to the description of promising process steps aiming at further improvements of solar cell efficiency, such as alkali doping and bandgap grading. intensive research on Cu 2 ZnSn(S,Se) 4 (CZT(S,Se)) kesterite compounds as CRM-free absorber layers for PV applications is essential. This article aims at establishing a complete overview of the physical routes used for the synthesis of kesterite thin films as absorber layers in solar cells. The following sections are devoted to that objective and will take on the main issues which have been raised so far as well as how the processes have evolved through the years to meet the requirements of the market. Some major advancements in terms of deposition or post-deposition treatments are introduced. Advantages and drawbacks of each of the physical methods presented in this review are described in detail and compared to other physical or chemical synthesis routes.
Physical routes: status overviewWe performed an extensive identification of the common processes and methods used for the synthesis of kesterite thin films or for the design of solar cell devices. In order to avoid unnecessary repetitions along this paper, this section first explains these well-known and commonly used experimental processes and methods. Historically, based on the similarities between kesterite and chalcopyrite compounds, the standard device structure adopted for Cu(In,Ga)(S,Se) 2 (CIGSSe) was directly extended to CZTSSe, by simply replacing the CIGSSe absorber layer with a p-type CZTSSe thin film. CZTSSe solar cells are then typically produced using a soda-lime glass (SLG) substrate coated with a sputtered Mo layer acting as rear metallic contact. Typical sputter-deposited Mo layer thickness is around 500 nm up to 1 μm [12]. The kesterite absorber is then deposited onto the Mo layer.The fabrication of this absorber consists in the deposition of a precursor layer via a physical or a chemical route, which is then annealed in a reactive atmosphere containing either S (sulfurization) or Se (selenization). As a common result of the reactive annealing, a thin Mo(S,Se) 2 layer is naturally formed at the CZTSSe/Mo interface, betw...