Secondary phases and their influence on optical and electrical properties of electrodeposited Cu2FeSnS4 films

Khouja, Outman El; Gâlcă, A.C.; Zaki, Mohamed Yassine; Talbi, A.; Ahmoum, Hassan; Nouneh, Khalid; Touhami, M. Ebn; Taïbi, M.; Matei, Elena; Enculescu, Monica; Pintilie, L.

doi:10.1007/s00339-021-05038-y

Cited by 8 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 59 publications

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“…Figure 10 represents the Tauc plots of the two stacks annealed in the S atmosphere for 30, 45, and 60 min. The optical band gap energies were inferred from transmittance data and estimated using the following equations: 4 where α is the absorption coefficient, E is the photon energy, A is the constant of proportionality, d is the film thickness, E g is the optical band gap, T is the transmittance, and Abs is the absorbance. The E g was determined using the Tauc plot by representing (Abs × E ) 2 vs E near the absorption edge.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“… 3 Therefore, researchers are now exploring new abundant and harmless materials that can replace the current absorber materials for solar cells. 4 Copper zinc tin sulfide, Cu 2 ZnSnS 4 (CZTS), is one of the most promising p-type semiconductors for photovoltaic devices. Apart from its optical and electronic properties, such as an optimal direct band gap (between 1.4 and 1.5 eV) and a high absorption coefficient (∼10 4 cm –1 ), 5 it is mainly composed of earth crust abundant and nontoxic elements (such as Cu, Zn, and Sn).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In fact, the scarcity of indium and tellurium elements has led to expensive manufacturing costs, while for cadmium, it is known to be extremely toxic and thus has a harmful impact on health and the environment . Therefore, researchers are now exploring new abundant and harmless materials that can replace the current absorber materials for solar cells . Copper zinc tin sulfide, Cu 2 ZnSnS 4 (CZTS), is one of the most promising p-type semiconductors for photovoltaic devices.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…represents the Tauc plots of the two stacks annealed in the S atmosphere for 30, 45, and 60 min. The optical band gap energies were inferred from transmittance data and estimated using the following equations:4 …”

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confidence: 99%

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A Two-Step Magnetron Sputtering Approach for the Synthesis of Cu₂ZnSnS₄ Films from Cu₂SnS₃\ZnS Stacks

et al. 2022

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Cu 2 ZnSnS 4 (CZTS) is regarded as one of the emerging materials for next-generation thin film solar cells. However, its synthesis is complex, and obtaining a single-phase CZTS thin film is difficult. This work reports the elaboration of Cu 2 ZnSnS 4 thin films by a sequential magnetron sputtering deposition of Cu 2 SnS 3 (CTS) and ZnS as stacked films. Initially, the CTS films were prepared on a soda lime glass substrate by annealing Cu and SnS 2 stacked layers. Second, ZnS was deposited by magnetron sputtering on the CTS films. The CTS\ZnS stacks were then annealed in Sn + S or S atmospheres. The tetragonal CZTS structure was obtained and confirmed by grazing incidence X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. The morphological and compositional characteristics, measured by scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive spectroscopy, revealed large grains and dense surfaces with the elemental composition close to the intended stoichiometry. Additional X-ray photoemission spectroscopy measurements were performed to determine the surface chemistry and particularities of the obtained films. The optical properties, determined using conventional spectroscopy, showed optimal absorber layer band gap values ranging between 1.38 and 1.50 eV. The electrical measurements showed that all the films are p-type with high carrier concentrations in the range of 10 15 to 10 20 cm –3 . This new synthesis route for CZTS opens the way to obtain high-quality films by an industry-compatible method.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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confidence: 99%

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A Two-Step Magnetron Sputtering Approach for the Synthesis of Cu₂ZnSnS₄ Films from Cu₂SnS₃\ZnS Stacks

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“…Recently the development of new absorber materials for the substitution of the currently commercialized Cu(In,Ga)Se 2 (CIGS) and cadmium telluride (CdTe) based solar cells has gained increasing interest 1 . These alloys are composed of expensive and scarce (In, Ga, Te), or toxic (Cd, Se) elements 2 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of the stacking order, annealing temperature and atmosphere on crystal phase and optical properties of Cu2SnS3

Zaki

Sava

Şimăndan

et al. 2022

Sci Rep

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Cu2SnS3 (CTS) is emerging as a promising absorber for the next generation thin film solar cells (TFSC) due to its excellent optical and electronic properties, earth-abundance and eco-friendly elemental composition. In addition, CTS can be used as precursor films for the Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) synthesis. The optical properties of CTS are influenced by stoichiometry, crystalline structure, secondary phases and crystallite size. Routes for obtaining CTS films with optimized properties for TFSC are still being sought. Here, the CTS thin films synthesized by magnetron sputtering on soda lime glass (SLG) using Cu and SnS2 targets in two different stacks, were studied. The SLG\Cu\SnS2 and SLG\SnS2\Cu stacks were annealed in S and Sn + S atmospheres, at various temperatures. Both stacks show a polymorphic structure, and higher annealing temperatures favor the monoclinic CTS phase formation. Morphology is influenced by the stacking order since a SnS2 top layer generates several voids on the surface due to the evaporation of SnS, while a Cu top layer provides uniform and void-free surfaces. The films in the copper-capped stack annealed under Sn + S atmosphere have the best structural, morphological, compositional and optical properties, with tunable band gaps between 1.18 and 1.37 eV. Remarkably, secondary phases are present only in a very low percent (< 3.5%) in samples annealed at higher temperatures. This new synthesis strategy opens the way for obtaining CTS thin films for solar cell applications, that can be used also as intermediary stage for CZTS synthesis.

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Growth and characterization of Cu–Ni–Sn–S films electrodeposited at different applied potentials

Khouja

Nouneh

Touhami

et al. 2023

J Mater Sci: Mater Electron

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Secondary phases and their influence on optical and electrical properties of electrodeposited Cu2FeSnS4 films

Cited by 8 publications

References 59 publications

A Two-Step Magnetron Sputtering Approach for the Synthesis of Cu₂ZnSnS₄ Films from Cu₂SnS₃\ZnS Stacks

A Two-Step Magnetron Sputtering Approach for the Synthesis of Cu₂ZnSnS₄ Films from Cu₂SnS₃\ZnS Stacks

Effect of the stacking order, annealing temperature and atmosphere on crystal phase and optical properties of Cu2SnS3

Growth and characterization of Cu–Ni–Sn–S films electrodeposited at different applied potentials

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Secondary phases and their influence on optical and electrical properties of electrodeposited Cu2FeSnS4 films

Cited by 8 publications

References 59 publications

A Two-Step Magnetron Sputtering Approach for the Synthesis of Cu2ZnSnS4 Films from Cu2SnS3\ZnS Stacks

A Two-Step Magnetron Sputtering Approach for the Synthesis of Cu2ZnSnS4 Films from Cu2SnS3\ZnS Stacks

Effect of the stacking order, annealing temperature and atmosphere on crystal phase and optical properties of Cu2SnS3

Growth and characterization of Cu–Ni–Sn–S films electrodeposited at different applied potentials

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Product

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A Two-Step Magnetron Sputtering Approach for the Synthesis of Cu₂ZnSnS₄ Films from Cu₂SnS₃\ZnS Stacks

A Two-Step Magnetron Sputtering Approach for the Synthesis of Cu₂ZnSnS₄ Films from Cu₂SnS₃\ZnS Stacks