Fabrication of Non-Vacuum Sns Thin Film for Solar Cell Application

Abstract

Tin mono-sulfide (SnS) thin film has been investigated as a photovoltaic absorber material due to not only a high optical absorption coefficient but also non-toxicity and earth abundance. However, the highest photovoltaic conversion efficiency is as low as 4.4%. One of the reasons for the low efficiency is considered to be the poor quality of the SnS layer, such as the formation of secondary phases and a high grain boundary density. Thus, many research groups have dedicated their own effort to obtaining a high quality of SnS thin film. Nano-particle based approach can be one of the suitable fabrication methods of SnS thin films because the thin film can be prepared by a simple coating process using the nano-particle based ink, and the subsequent thermal annealing. The thermal annealing can transform the nano-particle precursors into the thin film and promote the grain growth. Moreover, it can affect the micro-crystalline structure of the thin film. Thus, we can control the physical properties of the SnS thin films by the modification of the thermal annealing condition. In this study, we focused on the effect of the thermal annealing condition on the properties of the SnS thin films. We have found that the crystallinity and band gap (Eg) of thin film are highly dependent on the thermal annealing temperature. The partial pressure of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) gas during the thermal annealing affects the valence of Sn atom and the composition of the thin film. Finally, we demonstrate a SnS thin film solar cell and characterize its photovoltaic performance.