Open AccessStudy on the physical properties of Cu2ZnSnS4 thin films deposited by pneumatic spray pyrolysis technique
Author(s) -
Maykel Courel,
Miriam M. Nicolás,
O. VigilGalán
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
applied chemical engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2578-2010
DOI - 10.24294/ace.v4i1.652
Subject(s) - czts , materials science , thin film , band gap , cadmium telluride photovoltaics , spray pyrolysis , photovoltaic system , optoelectronics , energy conversion efficiency , pyrolysis , solar cell , thin film solar cell , chemical engineering , nanotechnology , electrical engineering , engineering
The acquisition of new materials for the manufacturing of high efficiency and low-cost photovoltaic devices has currently become a challenge. Thin films of CuInGaSe and CdTe have been widely used in solar cell of second generation, achieving efficiencies about 20 %; however, the low abundance of In and Te as well as the toxicity of Cd is the primary obstacles to their industrial production. Compounds such as Cu2ZnSnS4, Cu2ZnSnSe4 and Cu2ZnSn(SSe)4 have emerged as an important and less costly alternative for efficient energy conversion in the future. In addition, these compounds have the required characteristics to be used as an absorber material in solar cells (band-gap close to 1.4 eV, an absorption coefficient greater than 104 cm-1 and a p-type conductivity). In this work, we present a study of the structural, compositional, morphological and optical properties of Cu2ZnSnS4 thin films deposited by spray pyrolysis technique as well as their dependence on temperature.