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Effect of deposition time on structural and physical properties of Cu2CdSnS4 thin films prepared by spray pyrolysis technique: experimental and ab initio study

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Abstract

Cu2CdSnS4 (CCdTS) thin films were synthesized using chemical spray pyrolysis deposition technique. The effect of various deposition times (20, 40, 60 min) on growth of these films was investigated. The as-synthesized Cu2CdSnS4 thin films were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and Hall Effect measurements. The XRD pattern of Cu2CdSnS4 structured in stannite phase with preferential orientations along (112) planes. Raman spectrum revealed very strong peak at about 333 cm−1. The films have the direct optical band gaps of 1.39–1.5 eV. The optimum hole mobility was found to be 3.212 × 101 cm2 v−1 s−1 for the film deposited on 60 min. The electronic structure and optical properties of the stannite structure Cu2CdSnS4 were obtained by ab initio calculations using the Korringa–Kohn–Rostoker method combined with the Coherent Potential Approximation (CPA), as well as CPA confirms our results.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Materials Physics Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences, Mohammed V University, B.P. 1014, Rabat, Morocco

    M. Rouchdi, N. Hassanain & A. Mzerd

  2. LMPHE, Faculty of Sciences, Mohammed V University, B.P. 1014, Rabat, Morocco

    E. Salmani

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  1. M. Rouchdi
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Rouchdi, M., Salmani, E., Hassanain, N. et al. Effect of deposition time on structural and physical properties of Cu2CdSnS4 thin films prepared by spray pyrolysis technique: experimental and ab initio study. Opt Quant Electron 49, 165 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11082-017-1005-8

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