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Facile, one step synthesis of non-toxic kesterite Cu2ZnSnS4 nanoflakes thin film by chemical bath deposition for solar cell application

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Abstract

Herein we report, synthesis of non-toxic kesterite Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) nanoflakes thin film by facile, one-step and inexpensive chemical bath deposition method without any post deposition treatment. The kesterite structure of the as-grown CZTS thin film was confirmed by X-ray diffraction pattern (XRD) when compared with standard data (JCPDS #26–0575). In the Raman spectrum two principal peaks at 338 and 286 cm− 1 are clearly identified confirms the formation of kesterite structure of as-grown CZTS. The presence of all desired elements in the film was confirmed by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDAX) analysis. Uniform growth of fine nanoflakes distributed over the entire surface of the substrate, oriented along (110) plane are reported here. The estimated crystallite size of the kesterite CZTS nanoflakes thin film was ~ 45 nm. Higher absorption in the visible region was observed in UV absorption spectrum with a band gap value of ~ 1.6 eV. I–V characteristic curve show straight line nature passing through the origin with high current for both in dark and under light illumination. The drastic increase in current after light illumination (150 W) was observed results in 88.5% photosensitivity. Furthermore, the heterojunction using CZTS as an absorber layer and ZnS as a window layer were fabricated on FTO coated glass substrate with ‘Glass Substrate/FTO/ZnS/CZTS/Ag’ device configuration which resulted in 1.71% efficiency.

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  • 24 January 2018

    The original version of the article unfortunately contained an error in Fig. 8b. The current density (Jsc) is misspelled as 0.5 mA/cm2 instead of current density (Jsc) = 5.0 mA/cm2.

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Acknowledgements

One of the authors Mr. Nanasaheb Huse is thankful to the DST-SERB, Government of India for providing financial assistance through major research Project Ref. No.: SR/S2/CMP-0122-2012. I would like to extend my sincere gratitude towards Dr. Fouran Singh, Senior Scientist, IUAC, New Delhi for the support and characterization facilities. We are also thankful to Dr. Saif A. Khan and Dr. Indra Sulania, IUAC, New Delhi for providing FE-SEM with EDAX and AFM characterization facilities respectively. Authors are also thankful to the Head, Department of Physics and Department of Nanotechnology, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University, Aurangabad for providing necessary lab facilities to carry out the research work.

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  1. Thin Film and Nanotechnology Laboratory, Department of Physics, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University, Aurangabad, Maharashtra, 431004, India

    Nanasaheb P. Huse, Avinash S. Dive, Sandip V. Mahajan & Ramphal Sharma

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  1. Nanasaheb P. Huse
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Huse, N.P., Dive, A.S., Mahajan, S.V. et al. Facile, one step synthesis of non-toxic kesterite Cu2ZnSnS4 nanoflakes thin film by chemical bath deposition for solar cell application. J Mater Sci: Mater Electron 29, 5649–5658 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-018-8534-1

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