Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) assisted single-step synthesis of kesterite Cu2ZnSnS4 nanoparticles by solvothermal process

Quaternary kesterite-type Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) nanoparticles (NPs) were successfully synthesized by a single-step solvothermal process. Semiconductor CZTS nanoparticles were obtained from ethylene glycol (EG) and CZTS precursor after solvothermal process at 180 degrees C for 30 h in polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) medium. The synthesized CZTS NPs were further annealed at 450 degrees C in nitrogen atmosphere and used for further characterizations. The CZTS NPs were characterized using X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), micro Raman spectroscopy, high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The optical properties of the CZTS NPs were recorded by UV-vis absorption spectroscopy. The results showed that the synthesized CZTS nanoparticles are kesterite-type CZTS, with good crystallinity and a stoichiometric composition. Moreover, the prepared nanoparticles have a size ranging from 5-7 nm and a band gap of approximate to 1.5 eV. [GRAPHICS] . ((c) 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)