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Spin-coated kesterite CZTS thin films for photovoltaic applications

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Abstract

Copper zinc tin-sulfide (CZTS) films have been widely studied over recent years due to the inherent advantages of low cost, high absorption coefficient (≥ 104 cm−1), suitable band gap (∼1.5 eV) and nontoxicity. In this work, spin coating was used to obtain CZTS films of various compositions and degrees of crystallization on glass substrates, which were then annealed at 500 °C in a N2 atmosphere by using a rapid thermal processing (RTP) furnace in order to optimize their structure. Non-stoichiometric precursors and low spinning speeds resulted in a lower sheet resistance, which is considered to be a result of lower degree of crystallization. Furthermore, the non-stoichiometric films had a high optical band gap (> 1.66 eV) whereas the band gap of the stoichiometric films (1.4 to 1.6 eV) was close to the optimal value (1.5 eV) for solar-cell applications.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Physics Department, University of Dar es Salaam, Box 35063, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

    L. Majula, N. R. Mlyuka & M. E. Samiji

  2. School of Engineering & Physical Sciences, Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh Campus, Riccarton, Currie, EH14 4AS, United Kingdom

    R. S. Bryce

  3. School of Advanced Materials Engineering, Kookmin University, Seoul, 136-702, Korea

    D. Y. Kim, S. H. Kim, H. J. Lee & H. J. Choi

Authors
  1. L. Majula
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  2. N. R. Mlyuka
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  3. M. E. Samiji
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  4. R. S. Bryce
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  5. D. Y. Kim
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  6. S. H. Kim
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  7. H. J. Lee
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  8. H. J. Choi
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Correspondence to L. Majula.

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Majula, L., Mlyuka, N.R., Samiji, M.E. et al. Spin-coated kesterite CZTS thin films for photovoltaic applications. Journal of the Korean Physical Society 67, 1078–1081 (2015). https://doi.org/10.3938/jkps.67.1078

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.3938/jkps.67.1078

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