Temperature effects on optical characteristics of thermally evaporated CuSbSe2 thin films for solar cell applications

CuSbSe2 thin film was deposited by co-evaporation of binary CuSe and Sb2Se3 sources. The structural and morphological properties of the deposited thin film were investigated with X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray analysis measurements. XRD pattern indicated that deposited thin film has an orthorhombic crystalline structure with the preferential orientation of (013) direction. SEM image presented that the thin film surface is almost uniform. The optical characteristics of the deposited CuSbSe2 thin film were investigated in detail by performing room temperature Raman, temperature-dependent transmittance spectroscopy, and photoluminescence techniques. Raman spectrum exhibited one mode at around 210 cm(-1) associated with A(g) vibrational mode. The derivative spectroscopy technique was used to obtain the band gap energy of the films. Temperature dependence of band gap energy was investigated by considering the Varshni model. The rate of change of band gap energy, absolute zero value of gap energy, and Debye temperature were determined as 1.3 x 10(-4) eV/K, 1.21 eV, and 297 +/- 51 K, respectively. The photoluminescence spectrum indicated the room temperature direct band gap energy as 1.30 eV.

Automated summary

CuSbSe2 thin film was prepared by co-evaporation, and its structural, morphological, and optical properties were investigated. The film exhibited an orthorhombic crystalline structure with a nearly uniform surface. The optical analysis showed a small band gap energy and a room temperature direct band gap.