Ag2ZnSnS4 thin films elaborated by co-electrodeposition: Structural, optical and electrochemical investigations

Abstract

Here, the Ag2ZnSnS4 thin film was electrodeposited on molybdenum (Mo) for the first time using an electrodeposition-sulfurization technique. By adjusting the bath concentration, XRD and Raman analyses confirmed that the tetragonal Ag2ZnSnS4 phase was well elaborated for [Zn2+] = 0.05 M. As [Zn2+] varies, UV–visible reveals a bandgap change in the range 1.35–1.50 eV, with high absorption coefficient in the magnitude of 10−4 cm−1, confirmed by the DFT calculation. Cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic charge discharge analysis of Ag2ZnSnS4/Mo in 1 M-Na2SO4 electrolyte highlighted the pseudo-capacitor character and delivers higher specific capacitance of 450 F/g, with only a 13 % drop in specific flow capacity when the applied discharge current increases. These results strongly encourage the possible deployment of Ag2ZnSnS4 in energy conversion as well as in energy storage.