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Cu 2 ZnSnS 4 solar cells with a single spin‐coated absorber layer prepared via a simple sol–gel route
Author(s) -
Youn Na Kyoung,
Agawane Ganesh L.,
Nam Dahyun,
Gwak Jihye,
Shin Seung Wook,
Kim Jin Hyeok,
Yun Jae Ho,
Ahn SeJin,
Cho Ara,
Eo Young Ju,
Ahn Seung Kyu,
Cheong Hyeonsik,
Kim Dong Hwan,
Shin KeeShik,
Yoon Kyung Hoon
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
international journal of energy research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.808
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 1099-114X
pISSN - 0363-907X
DOI - 10.1002/er.3446
Subject(s) - czts , materials science , raman spectroscopy , thiourea , spin coating , thin film , scanning electron microscope , annealing (glass) , molybdenum , solar cell , auger electron spectroscopy , sol gel , analytical chemistry (journal) , band gap , kesterite , open circuit voltage , chemical engineering , short circuit , energy dispersive x ray spectroscopy , nanotechnology , metallurgy , optoelectronics , composite material , chemistry , optics , organic chemistry , physics , engineering , quantum mechanics , voltage , nuclear physics
Summary Carbon‐free Cu 2 ZnSnS 4 (CZTS) thin films were prepared via a simple spin‐coating process based on a sol–gel precursor of methoxyethanol solution with metal salts and thiourea, followed by post‐sulfurization. The sol–gel precursor solution was deposited onto molybdenum‐coated glass substrates. The sulfurization process was carried out using a conventional furnace at 525 °C for 60 min in a nitrogen atmosphere with sulfur powder. The structural, morphological and compositional properties of as‐sulfurized thin films were characterized using X‐ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and Auger electron spectroscopy. Only a single coating of the precursor solution was applied to obtain uniform Zn‐rich and Cu‐poor CZTS films thicker than 1 µm after post‐annealing. The best solar cell fabricated with the as‐prepared CZTS films of band gap energy ~1.37 eV showed a short‐circuit current density of 10.15 mA/cm 2 , an open circuit voltage of 0.509 V, a fill factor of 33.72% and a conversion efficiency of 1.74%. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.