Chemically synthesized Ag-doped SnS films for PV applications

The present paper reports chemically synthesized silver (Ag)-doped SnS absorbers (0-15 at%) with tunable opto-electrical properties. The deposide films exhibited a polycrystalline nature and the crystallinity was improved with Ag-doping concentration upto 9 at%. The optical band gap of the films was varied in the range, 1.31-1.26 eV. The electrical resistivity of the films decreased significantly and the carrier concentration was improved by the Ag-doping concentration. Therefore, the SnS films grown with a 9 at% Ag-doping concentration exhibited a very low electrical resistivity of 6 Omega-cm and a carrier concentration of 1.2x10(16) cm(-3) with an optical energy band gap of 1.26 eV due to the interstitial inclusion of Ag-atoms, which are suitable for the fabrication of eco-friendly, low cost, reliable, and highly efficient thin film solar cells.