Nanotechnology Reviews (Oct 2015)

Cu2ZnSnS4 synthesized through a low-cost reflux method

  • Aditha Sai Kiran,
  • Patnaik Sandeep,
  • Chunduri Avinash,
  • Rattan Tanu Mimani,
  • Kamisetti Venkataramaniah

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1515/ntrev-2015-0005
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 4, no. 5
pp. 473 – 478

Abstract

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The chalcopyrite semiconductors belonging to the I2-II-IV-VI4 class are emerging as promising absorber materials for photovoltaic applications. Among them, Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) has been gaining importance due to its high absorption coefficient and optimum band-gap. To make CZTS an economically viable alternative, in this study, the CZTS powder has been synthesized via a low-cost, environment-friendly reflux method. In the current method, the salts of the respective metals were taken as initial precursors, and thiourea was used as a precursor for sulfur. The stoichiometric amounts of the precursors were taken in distilled water and the solution was refluxed for 8 h. The products were filtered and washed with distilled water and ethanol consecutively. Phase identification was done using powder X-ray diffraction (given by the reference pattern JCPDS card no. #00-026-0575) and Raman spectroscopy analysis (corresponding Raman shifts for CZTS: 288 and 338 cm-1). The band gap of the compound was calculated from the UV-visible spectroscopy and found to be 1.4 eV.

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