The Development of CZTS Thin Films for Solar Cells

Abstract:

CZTS thin film, a potential candidate for application as absorber layer in thin film solar cells, has drawn much attention in these years due to its excellent photoelectric performance and nontoxic components. It provides a brief description of the development of CZTS thin film for solar cells, and surveys several methods of depositing CZTS films, then introduces the crystal structure of CZTS which is a problem for composition ratio affecting the properties of CZTS thin films. Here we also outline the development and the structure of solar cells based on CZTS thin films.

• Periodical: Applied Mechanics and Materials (Volumes 182-183)
• Pages: 237-240
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.182-183.237
• Online since: June 2012
• Authors: Nian Jing Ji, Ke Gao Liu, Zhong Quan Ma
• Keywords: CZTS, Development, Solar Cell, Thin Film

References

[1] H. Katagiri, K. Jimbo, Development of CZTS-based thin film solar cells, Thin Solid Films 517 (2009) 2455-2460.

DOI: 10.1016/j.tsf.2008.11.002

[2] Y.B. Kishore Kumar, G.S. Babu, Preparation and characterization of spray-deposited Cu2ZnSnS4 thin films, Solar Energy Materials & Solar Cells 93 (2009) 1230-1237.

DOI: 10.1016/j.solmat.2009.01.011

[3] K. Ito, T. Nakazawa, Electrical and optical properties of stannite-type quaternary semiconductor thin films, Jpn. J. Appl. Phys. 27 (1988) 2094–(2097).

DOI: 10.1143/jjap.27.2094

[4] K. Jimbo, R. Kimura, T. Kamimura, Cu2ZnSnS4-type thin film solar cells using abundant materials, Thin Solid Films 515 (2007) 5997-5999.

DOI: 10.1016/j.tsf.2006.12.103

[5] P.A. Fernandes, P.M.P. Salomé, et al, Cu2ZnSnS4 solar cells prepared with sulphurized dc-sputtered stacked metallic precursors, Thin Solid Films 519 (2011)7382-7385.

DOI: 10.1016/j.tsf.2010.12.035

[6] J. Zhang, L. X Shao, Cu2ZnSnS4 thin films prepared by sulfurization of ion beam sputtered precursor, Rare Metals Vol. 25, Spec. Issue, Oct (2006), p.315.

DOI: 10.1016/s1001-0521(07)60096-5

[7] H. Araki, A. Mikaduki, Y. Kubo, Preparation of Cu2ZnSnS4 thin films by sulfurization of stacked metallic layers, Thin Solid Films 517 (2008) 1457-1460.

DOI: 10.1016/j.tsf.2008.09.058

[8] R. Schurr, A. Hölzing , S. Jost, The crystallisation of Cu2ZnSnS4 thin film solar cell absorbers from co-electroplated Cu–Zn–Sn precursors, Thin Solid Films 517 (2009) 2465-2468.

DOI: 10.1016/j.tsf.2008.11.019

[9] David B. Mitzin, Oki Gunawan, The path towards a high-performance solution-processed kesterite solar cell, Solar Energy Materials & Solar Cells 96 (2011)1421-1436.

DOI: 10.1016/j.solmat.2010.11.028

[10] S. Chen, X.G. Gong, A. Walsh, Defect physics of the kesterite thin-film solar cell absorber Cu2ZnSnS4, Applied Physics Letters, (2010) 96 (2), art. No. 021902.

DOI: 10.1063/1.3275796

[11] N. Kamoun, H. Bouzouita, B. Rezig, Fabrication and characterization of Cu2ZnSnS4 thin films deposited by spray pyrolysis technique, Thin Solid Films 515 (2007) 5949-5952.

DOI: 10.1016/j.tsf.2006.12.144

[12] J.X. Huang, L. X hao, Electrical and Optical Properties of Cu2ZnSnS4 thin films prepared by Sulfurization of Metal Multilayer,J. of Zhanjiang Normal College Jun, 2007, Vol 2859-63.

[13] W. Schäfer and R Nitsche, Tetrahedral quaternary chalcogenides of the type Cu2-II-IV-S4(Se4), Mater. Res. Bull. 9 (1974) 645–654.

DOI: 10.1016/0025-5408(74)90135-4

[14] S.R. Hall J.T. Szymanski, J.M. Stewart, Kesterite, Cu2(Zn, Fe)SnS4, and stannite, Cu2(Fe, Zn)SnS4, structurally similar but distinct minerals, Can. Mineral. 16(1978) 131–137.

DOI: 10.32657/10356/68824

[15] S. Schorr, H. -J Hoebler, A neutron diffraction study of the stannite-kesterite solid solution series,M. Tovar, Eur. J. Miner. 1992 (2007) 65-75.

DOI: 10.1127/0935-1221/2007/0019-0065

[16] Susan Schorr, The crystal structure of kesterite type compounds: A neutron and X-ray diffraction study, Solar Energy Materials & Solar Cells, 95(2011)1482-1488.

DOI: 10.1016/j.solmat.2011.01.002

[17] J. Paier, R. Asahi, A. Nagoya, Cu2ZnSnS4 as a potential photovoltaic material: a hybrid Hartree-Fock density functional theory study, Phys. Rev. B 79 (2009) 115126-1- 115126-8.

DOI: 10.1103/physrevb.79.115126

[18] Jonathan J. Scragg, Preparation and photoelectrochemical characterization of Cu2ZnSnS4, Electro-chemistry Communications 10 (2008) 639–642.

[19] Kazuo Jimbo, Ryoichi Kimura, Tsuyoshi Kamimura, Cu2ZnSnS4-type thin film solar cells using abundant materials, Thin Solid Films 515 (2007) 5997-5999.

DOI: 10.1016/j.tsf.2006.12.103

[20] David B. Mitzin, Oki Gunawan, The path towards a high-performance solution-processed kesterite solar cell, Solar Energy Materials & Solar Cells 95(2011)1421-1436.

DOI: 10.1016/j.solmat.2010.11.028

[21] H. Katagiri, N. Sasaguchi, Preparation films by and evaluation of Cu2ZnSnS4 thin sulfurization of E-B evaporated precursors, Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells 49 (1997) 407-414.

DOI: 10.1016/s0927-0248(97)00119-0

[22] Th. M. Friedlmeier, N. Wieser, Heterojunctions based on Cu2ZnSnS4 and Cu2ZnSnS4 thin films, Proceedings of the 14th Europe an PVSEC an Exhibition, (1997), P4B. 10.

[23] Hironori Katagiri, Kotoe Saitoh, Development of thin film solar cell based on Cu2ZnSnS4 thin films, Solar Energy Materials & Solar Cells 65 (2001) 141-148.

DOI: 10.1016/s0927-0248(00)00088-x

[24] A. Ennaoui, M. Lux-Steiner, A. Weber, et al, Cu2ZnSnS4 thin film solar cells from electroplated precursors: Novel low-cost perspective, Thin Solid Films 517 (2009) 2511-2514.

DOI: 10.1016/j.tsf.2008.11.061

[25] K. Tanaka, M. Oonuki, N. Moritake, Cu2ZnSnS4 thin film solar cells prepared by non-vacuum processing, Solar Energy Materials & Solar Cells 93 (2009) 583-587.

DOI: 10.1016/j.solmat.2008.12.009

[26] Teodor Todorov, Oki Gunawan, S. Jay Chey, Progress towards marketable earth-abundant chalcogenide solar cells, Thin Solid Films 519(2011)10-13.

DOI: 10.1016/j.tsf.2010.12.225