Abstract
For the first time, kesterite Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) thin films were efficiently obtained by electrophoretic deposition (EPD) of CZTS nanocrystal (NC) dispersion in an environmentally-friendly solvent, isopropanol. By regulating the applied potential, deposition time, and NC suspension concentration, the EPD process was successfully optimized. Photoelectrochemical measurements (PECMs) were carried out to test the EPD film performance, where the photocurrent density generated from the reduction of methyl viologen (MV2+) was evaluated. EPD films showed a photocurrent three times higher than those obtained by dropcasting at the same concentration. X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy confirmed the formation of a single phase Cu2ZnSnS4 kesterite structure, without impurities. Intensity modulated photocurrent spectroscopy was used to determine the hole-electron recombination and product separation kinetics in the photoprocesses. Lastly, UV-visible spectroscopy determined the bandgap as 1.45 eV, which is an ideal value for single junction solar cell devices. The EPD approach can be combined with our optimized one-pot synthesis of CZTS NCs, which avoids annealing steps after the deposition. Based on these findings, EPD is anticipated to become one of the most promising routes toward fabrication of solar cell devices.
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