Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Electrochemical deposition of quaternary Cu2ZnSnS4 thin films as potential solar cell material

  • Published:
Applied Physics A Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Quaternary compound semiconductor Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS), which appears to be a promising candidate for the absorber of a thin film type solar cell, was grown on polycrystalline Ag substrates by electrochemical epitaxial method. The elements were deposited in the following sequence: S/Sn/S/Cu/S/Zn/S/Cu… , the order being one cycle of SnS, one cycle of ZnS and two cycles of CuS. Morphology of the deposit has been characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) with an energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analyzer. X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies showed a (112) preferred orientation for the deposit. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) of the deposit indicated an approximate ratio 2:1:1:4 of Cu, Zn, Sn, and S, the expected stoichiometry for the deposit, and similar results have been obtained from EDX data. Near IR absorption measurements of the deposit at room temperature indicated a direct band gap of 1.5 eV, and open-circuit potential (OCP) studies indicated a good p-type property, both of which were suitable for fabricating a thin film solar cell.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. K. Ito, T. Nakazawa, Jpn. J. Appl. Phys. 27, 2094 (1988)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  2. J.S. Seol, S.Y. Lee, J.C. Lee, H.D. Nam, K.H. Kim, Sol. Energy Mater. Sol. Cells 75, 155 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. T. Tanaka, T. Nagatomo, D. Kawasaki, M. Nishio, Q. Guo, A. Wakahara, A. Yoshida, H. Ogawa, J. Phys. Chem. Solids 66, 1978 (2005)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  4. T.M. Friedlmeier, N. Wieser, T. Walter, H. Dittrich, H.W. Schock, in Proceedings of the 14th European Conference of Photovoltaic Science and Engineering and Exhibition, Belford (1997), p. 1242

  5. K. Moriya, K. Tanaka, H. Uchiki, Jpn. J. Appl. Phys. 44, 715 (2005)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  6. N. Nakayama, K. Ito, Appl. Surf. Sci. 92, 171 (1996)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  7. N. Kamoun, H. Bouzouita, B. Rezig, Thin Solid Films 515, 5949 (2007)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  8. H. Katagiri, N. Sasaguchi, S. Hando, S. Hoshino, J. Ohashi, T. Yokota, Sol. Energy Mater. Sol. Cells 49, 407 (1997)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. H. Katagiri, K. Saitoh, T. Washio, H. Shinohara, T. Kurumadani, S. Miyajima, Sol. Energy Mater. Sol. Cells 65, 141 (2001)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. B.W. Gregory, J.L. Stickney, J. Electroanal. Chem. 300, 543 (1991)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. I. Villegas, J.L. Stickney, J. Electrochem. Soc. 139, 686 (1992)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. M. Innocenti, F. Forni, G. Pezzatini, R. Raiteri, F. Loglio, M.L. Foresti, J. Electroanal. Chem. 514, 75 (2001)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. J.B.H. Flowers, T.L. Wade, J.W. Garvey, M. Lay, U. Happek, J.L. Stickney, J. Electroanal. Chem. 524–525, 273 (2002)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. T.L. Wade, R. Vaidyanathan, U. Happek, J.L. Stickney, J. Electroanal. Chem. 500, 322 (2001)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. R. Vaidyanathan, J.L. Stickney, S.M. Cox, S.P. Compton, U. Happek, J. Electroanal. Chem. 559, 55 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Z.Q. Qiao, W. Shang, C.M. Wang, J. Electroanal. Chem. 576, 171 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. W. Zhu, J.Y. Yang, J. Hou, X.H. Gao, S.Q. Bao, X.A. Fan, J. Electroanal. Chem. 585, 83 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. J.Y. Yang, W. Zhu, X.H. Gao, S.Q. Bao, X. Fan, X.K. Duan, J. Hou, J. Phys. Chem. B 110, 4599 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. M. Innocenti, S. Cattarin, F. Loglio, T. Cecconi, G. Seravalli, M.L. Foresti, Electrochim. Acta 49, 1327 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. F. Loglio, M. Innocenti, G. Pezzatini, M.L. Foresti, J. Electroanal. Chem. 562, 117 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. M.L. Foresti, S. Milani, F. Loglio, M. Innocenti, G. Pezzatini, S. Cattarin, Langmuir 21, 6900 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. M. Dietterle, T. Will, D.M. Kolb, Surf. Sci. 342, 29 (1995)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  23. K. Jimbo, R. Kimura, T. Kamimura, S. Yamada, W.S. Maw, H. Araki, K. Oishi, H. Katagiri, Thin Solid Films 515, 5997 (2007)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China

    Xin Zhang, Xuezhao Shi, Weichun Ye, Chuanli Ma & Chunming Wang

Authors
  1. Xin Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Xuezhao Shi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Weichun Ye
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Chuanli Ma
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Chunming Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Chunming Wang.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Zhang, X., Shi, X., Ye, W. et al. Electrochemical deposition of quaternary Cu2ZnSnS4 thin films as potential solar cell material. Appl. Phys. A 94, 381–386 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-008-4815-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-008-4815-5

PACS

Search

Navigation