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Reaction pathway for synthesis of Cu2ZnSn(S/Se)4 via mechano-chemical route and annealing studies

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Abstract

Reaction pathway for the formation of kesterite Cu2ZnSn(S/Se)4 (CZTS/Se) from elemental precursors (Cu, Zn, Sn, S/Se) has been investigated experimentally and is being reported in the current paper. To identify the various stages of reaction pathway and to identify the formation and consumption of secondary phases, X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy tools were employed. A series of experiments for different ballmilling durations (5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 h) were performed and the presence of different phases was recorded for each experiment. In addition to XRD and Raman studies, phase formation has also been confirmed using detailed XPS, TEM and SEM–EDS analysis. In addition, the effect of annealing temperature on composition and band gap of the CZTS/Se material has been discussed. Optical band gap of various samples of CZTS was observed in the range of 1.40–1.60 eV and that of CZTSe was observed in the range of 1.08–1.18 eV. The relatively simple, low cost, easily scalable mechanical alloying process along with understanding of reaction pathway will provide a future scope for bulk production of CZTS/Se absorber material for thin film solar cells.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Sophisticated Analytical Instrument Facility (SAIF) at IIT Bombay for providing the access to the facilities of FEG-TEM and FEG-SEM. Author P.S. would like to acknowledge the IITB-ISRO space technology cell at IITBombay for funding the research work through Grant 15ISROC002. KRB would like to thank IRCC, IIT Bombay for partial funding for this project through the Grant 12IRCCSG014.

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  1. Department of Energy Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Powai, Mumbai, 400076, India

    Devendra Pareek, K. R. Balasubramaniam & Pratibha Sharma

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  1. Devendra Pareek
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Pareek, D., Balasubramaniam, K.R. & Sharma, P. Reaction pathway for synthesis of Cu2ZnSn(S/Se)4 via mechano-chemical route and annealing studies. J Mater Sci: Mater Electron 28, 1199–1210 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-016-5646-3

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