Fabrication and Characterization of Low-Cost, Large-Area Spray Deposited Cu2ZnSnS4 Thin Films for Heterojunction Solar Cells

Abstract

ABSTRACTLarge-area Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) thin films were deposited by low-cost spray pyrolysis technique on Mo-coated soda-lime glass (SLG) substrates at varied substrate temperatures of 563-703°K. Deposition conditions were optimized to obtain best quality films and effect of post deposition thermal processing of the as-deposited films under H2S ambient were investigated. Structural, morphological, and compositional characterization of as-deposited and H2S treated CZTS absorber layers were carried out by x-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive x-ray analysis (EDX). Optical and electrical properties were measured by UV-Vis spectroscopy, van der Pauw, and Hall-effect measurements. Films grown at ∼360°C substrate temperature showed superior optoelectronic properties, improved stoichiometry and smoother morphology compared to films grown at much higher or lower temperatures. Film properties were significantly improved after the H2S processing. Our results show that large area high quality CZTS films can be fabricated by low-cost spray pyrolysis technique for high throughput commercial production of CZTS based heterojunction solar cells.