Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Influence of gamma radiation on structural, microstructural and optical properties of Cu\({}_{2}\)ZnSnS\({}_{4}\) (CZTS) thin films prepared by thermal evaporation technique

  • Published:
Pramana Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Cu\(_{2}\)ZnSnS\(_{4}\) (CZTS) thin films for three samples were prepared at the same deposition parameters by thermal evaporation method at a vacuum pressure of 6.0 \(\times \) 10\(^{-5}\) Torr and investigated using irradiation technique. The films deposited were irradiated with the gamma irradiation source (Cs-137) when activity \(= 1317.72\) MBq, dose rate \(=100.686\) Gy/h for 300 and 600 Gy doses to study the influence of gamma irradiation on the structural, morphological and optical properties of the films. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) and UV–Vis were used to investigate the properties of the as-deposited and irradiated films. X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies of the as-deposited and irradiated thin films revealed a kesterite structure with tetragonal lattices at a preferred orientation along 2\(\theta \) = 28.55\(^{\circ }\). The intensity of the preferred peaks and the crystallite sizes showed a significant decrease with an increase in irradiation dose. Other microstructural parameters such as microstrain, dislocation density and the texture coefficient increase with the increase in irradiation dose. The field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) images from the surface morphology investigation indicated that the as-deposited thin film was non-uniform and irradiated films became more compact and uniform with distinct grain size as the gamma radiation dose increases. Optical properties including band gap, absorption coefficient, transmittance and absorbance spectra for both as-deposited and irradiation films were also studied. It was found that the band gap for the as-deposited, 300 Gy and 600 Gy films were 1.48, 1.50 and 1.53 eV respectively. The absorption coefficient (\(\alpha )\) decreased from 7.1235 to 5.6056 \(\times \) 10\(^{4}\) cm\(^{-1}\). The influence of irradiation dose used in this work has shown a positive influence on the structural, morphological and optical properties.

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

Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. M Jiang and X Yan, Solar cells research and application perspectives edited by A Morales-Acevedo (Intech, London, 2013) Vol. 107

  2. K El Zawawi, A Mahdy, N Rabie, K Sedeek and A Adam, J. Mater. Sci. Electron. 22, 1195 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. J M A Al-Leteef, DJPS 8, 50 (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  4. S Ahmad, K Asokan, M S Khan and M Zulfequar, IJTFST 4, 103 (2015)

    Google Scholar 

  5. K Ali, S Klan and M Z Mat-Jafri, Int. J. Electrochem. Sci. 8, 7831 (2013)

    Google Scholar 

  6. G A M Amin and N M Spyrou, Radiat. Phys. Chem. 72, 419 (2004)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  7. C O Obasi, I L Ikhioya, A S Ahmad and A M Ramalan, IJEAST 4, 224 (2019)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. J P Singh, I Sulania, J Prakash, G S K H Chae, D Kanjilal and K Asokan, Adv. Mater. Lett. 3, 112 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. A Abu El-Fadl, A S Soltan and A A Abu-Sehly, J. Phys. Chem. Solids 68, 1415 (2007)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  10. F H Mahasin, A S Asrar, I K Rana and J K A Farah, JTAP 11, 201 (2017)

    Google Scholar 

  11. H Flammersberger, Experimental study of\(Cu_2ZnSnS_4\)thin films for solar cells, Masters thesis (Uppsala Universitet, Sweden, 2010)

  12. P Singh, N Muhunthan, B Singh and P Singh, Adv. Mater. Lett. 6, 2 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. R Busari, B Taleatu, S Adewinbi, O Adewumi, E Omotoso, K Oyedotun and A Fasasi, Bull. Mater. Sci. 43, 83 (2020)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. S Islam, M A Hossain, H Kabir, M Rahaman, M S Bashar, M A Gafur, A Kabir, M M R Bhuiyan, F Ahmed and N Khatun, IJTFST 4, 155 (2015)

    Google Scholar 

  15. W Wang, H She, X He and J Li, J. Nanopart. Res. 16, 24 (2014)

    Google Scholar 

  16. M I Hossain, Chalcogenide Lett. 9, 231 (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  17. M R Yas, Iraq. J. Phys. 10, 71 (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  18. A A Darwish, I S A M Shams and M El-Nahass, Synth. Met. 215, 200 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. S Thirumalaran, K Mani and S Sagadevan, J. Ovonic Res. 11, 203 (2015)

    Google Scholar 

  20. P Kathirvel, D Manoharan, S Moham and S Kunar, J. Optoelectron. Biomed. Mater. 1, 25 (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  21. N Habubi, M S Hashim and A Al-Yasiri, Baghdad Sci. J. 7, 1 (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  22. T Maity and S Sharma, IJPAP 49, 606 (2011)

    Google Scholar 

  23. I S Isaa, IHJPAS 26, 150 (2013)

    Google Scholar 

  24. U Isah, A Yabagi, U Ahmadu, I Kimpa, G Kana and A Oberafo, J. Appl. Phys. 2, 14 (2013)

    Google Scholar 

  25. Chan Lam and Surya, Sol. Energy Mater. Sol. 94, 207 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. H Katagiri, K Jimbo, W S Maw, K Oishi, M Yamazaki, H Araki and A Takeuchi,Thin Solid Films 517, 2455 (2009)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  27. C R Abul-Hail, H F Hussein and A A Al-Fregi, Sci. J. Phys. 2, 4 (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  28. N A Al-Hamdani, R D Al-Alawy and S Hassan, IOSR-JCE 16, 11 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. M Souli, C Nefzi, Z Seboui, A Mejri, R Vidu and N Kamoun-Turki, Mater. Sci. Semicond. Process. 83, 50 (2018)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. S A Gad, J. Radiat. Res. Appl. Sci. 8, 311 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. H M Ajeel, T Z Hussein, M K Thajeel and R H Mekkilf, Eng. Tech. J. 32, 811 (2014)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 410001, Enugu State, Nigeria

    Chidiebere Ogonnaya Obasi

  2. Department of Physics, Federal University of Technology, P.M.B. 065, Minna, Niger State, Nigeria

    Chidiebere Ogonnaya Obasi, Kasim Uthman Isah & Mohammed Isah Kimpa

  3. Department of Physics, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, P.M.B. 011, Lapai, Niger State, Nigeria

    Jibrin Alhaji Yabagi

Authors
  1. Chidiebere Ogonnaya Obasi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Kasim Uthman Isah
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Jibrin Alhaji Yabagi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Mohammed Isah Kimpa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Chidiebere Ogonnaya Obasi.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Obasi, C.O., Isah, K.U., Yabagi, J.A. et al. Influence of gamma radiation on structural, microstructural and optical properties of Cu\({}_{2}\)ZnSnS\({}_{4}\) (CZTS) thin films prepared by thermal evaporation technique. Pramana - J Phys 96, 20 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12043-021-02253-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12043-021-02253-3

Keywords

PACS

Search

Navigation