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Fabrication of Cu<inf>2</inf>ZnSnS<inf>4</inf> Light Absorber Using a Cost-Effective Mechanochemical Method for Photovoltaic Applications
Journal
Materials
Date Issued
2022-03-01
Author(s)
Sahu, Meenakshi
Reddy, Vasudeva Reddy Minnam
Kim, Bomyung
Patro, Bharati
Park, Chinho
Kim, Woo Kyoung
Sharma, Pratibha
Abstract
In the present study, we adopt an easy and cost-effective route for preparing Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS)-absorber nanoparticles by a mechanochemical method using non-toxic and environmentally benign solvents (butanol, methyl ethyl ketone, and ethanol). The gram-scale synthesis of absorber nanoparticles was achieved in a non-hazardous, zero-waste process without using high-vacuum equipment. The effects of annealing and Na incorporation on the properties of spin-coated CZTS thin films were scrutinized. The deposited samples showed kesterite crystal structure and single phase. The morphological results revealed an improvement in the surface morphology after annealing. The optical bandgaps of the thin films lied in the range of 1.50–1.57 eV with p-type nature. Finally, photo-voltaic devices were fabricated, and their cell performance parameters were studied. An efficiency of 0.16% was observed. The present study provides a potential route for the cost-effective fabrication of CZTS-based photovoltaic devices.
Subjects