Nanostructured ZnO, Cu2ZnSnS4, Cd1−xZnxTe Thin Films Obtained by Spray Pyrolysis Method

Abstract

The paper presents the investigation on the influence of substrate temperature T s and the sprayed initial solution volume V s on structural, substructural, optical properties, and elemental composition of ZnO and Cu 2 ZnSnS 4 (CZTS) films as well as state-of-the-art of studying the Cd 1−x Zn x Te (CZT) films obtained by spray pyrolysis technique. The singlephase nanocrystalline ZnO films with average crystallite size of D C = 25-270 nm and thickness of d = 0.8-1.2 μm can be deposited at substrate temperatures of T s > 473 K. The continuous CZTS films with optimal thickness (d = 1.3 μm) for application as absorber layers in solar cells were deposited at the sprayed initial precursor volume of V s = 5 ml. The increase of the substrate temperature up to 673 K caused the significant improvements in the stoichiometry of ZnO films. The optimal stoichiometry ratio of CZTS films for application in solar cells was obtained at V s = 3-4 ml. Optical study of ZnO films showed that these films have a high-transmission coefficient values of T = 60-80%. To the best of our knowledge, there is the lack of works devoted to the study of CZT films obtained by spray pyrolysis technique.

The role of samarium incorporated structural defects in ZnO thin films prepared by femtosecond pulsed laser deposition

“…give not only replacement of bulk properties but sometimes reveals new features based on size effects [6][7][8]. ZnO based nanostructures have gained much attention when doped with rare-earth metals [9].…”