Photocurrent generation and charge transport mechanism study in solution-processed CZTS thin films

Clean, benign and economical energy harvesting is envisioned to mitigate the global climate change - originated from the burning of fossil fuels - addressing both the energy crises and environmental issues. In this work, charge transport mechanism and the dynamics of photocur-rent generation in thin films of CZTS nanocrystals is studied. A liquid phase processing route - owing to low temperature - has been adopted using a molecular based precursor solution for the in-situ development of CZTS crystals during film deposition. Results shows that charge carriers follow band conduction and nearest-neighbor hopping (NNH) mechanisms at elevated tempera -tures while Mott variable-range hopping (VRH) is the dominating phenomenon at low temper-atures which are analogues to expensive vacuum-deposited kieserite thin films behavior.

Automated summary

This work investigates the charge transport mechanism and dynamics of photocurrent generation in thin films of CZTS nanocrystals. A liquid phase processing route using a molecular-based precursor solution is adopted for in-situ development of CZTS crystals. The results reveal that charge carriers follow band conduction and nearest-neighbor hopping mechanisms at elevated temperatures, while Mott variable-range hopping is dominant at low temperatures, similar to expensive vacuum-deposited kieserite thin films behavior.