Growth of Cu2ZnSnS4 thin film absorber layer on transparent conductive oxides and molybdenum substrates by electrodeposition for photovoltaic application

Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) absorber layer for the photovoltaic application was successfully deposited on different substrates, indium tin oxide (ITO), fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) and molybdenum (Mo) using a single step electrodeposition process. The structural, morphological and optical properties of the CZTS films were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and photoluminescence (PL). The present study was designed to determine the effect of the substrate on the kesterite thin film properties grown by electrodeposition. The results confirm that the CZTS properties depend on the substrate nature. Furthermore, the CZTS films deposited on Mo substrate was found more appropriate for CZTS based solar cells due to their crystallinity and good morphology as well as their suitable energy bandgap around 1.6 eV.

Automated summary

The substrate significantly affects the properties of CZTS thin films, with CZTS films deposited on Mo substrate being more suitable for CZTS-based solar cells due to their crystallinity, good morphology, and suitable energy bandgap around 1.6 eV.