Synthesis and characterization of Cu2S:Al thin films for solar cell applications

Abstract

In this work Nano crystalline (Cu2S) thin films pure and doped 3% Al with a thickness of 400±20 nm was precipitated by thermic steaming technicality on glass substrate beneath a vacuum of ~ 2 × 10− 6 mbar at R.T to survey the influence of doping and annealing after doping at 573 K for one hour on its structural, electrical and visual properties. Structural properties of these movies are attainment using X-ray variation (XRD) which showed Cu2S phase with polycrystalline in nature and forming hexagonal temple ,with the distinguish trend along the (220) grade, varying crystallites size from (42.1-62.06) nm after doping and annealing. AFM investigations of these films show that increase average grain size from 105.05 nm to 146.54 nm while decrease the roughness from 5.93 nm to 4.73 nm after doping. Hall measurements show that the conductivity change from 1.43 × 10− 3 to 7.33 × 103 (Ω cm)-1 , these films have p-type conductivity and the mobility varied from 3.87 × 102 to 8.48 × 1010 cm2 /V.s. Optical constants were calculated for these films in the range of wave length (300-1100) nm using UV/Visible measurement. The visual properties showed that Cu2S membrane have a high value of the absorption coefficient and decrease the optical energy gap values from (2.25-1.5) eV after doping with 3% Al. The characterization of these films can chose in the application of solar cells.