Preparation and Characterization of Cu2CrSnS4 Thin Films Deposited at Different Temperatures
Abstract
In this study, Cu2CrSnS4 thin films are prepared using chemical pyrolysis technique at various deposition temperatures (200, 250, 300, 350, 400 and 450 °C) and without any annealing process. The structure characteristics of the films have been studied by X ray diffraction (XRD), micro-Raman spectroscopy, and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM), while the optical characteristics are investigated by UV-Visible spectrophotometry, and the electrical properties aree described by Hall Effect test. Results of XRD for Cu2CrSnS4 (CCTS) films showed the tetragonal crystal structure of stannite phase with (112) preferred orientation. The results of Raman spectroscopy of the prepared CCTS thin films showed a clear peak at ~ 336 cm-1. Furthermore, the morphology results and through (FESEM) images of thin films surface showed different forms and shapes with different granular size ranging from 40 to 294 nm. Optical examination of the ultraviolet-visible spectrum showed an optical energy gap of (1.69-1.59 eV) which are considered to be suitable for thin films solar cells applications. The electrical measurements through Hall Effect test showed that the films have charge carriers of (p-type). From results analysis, the optimized temperature of the prepared (CCTS) samples was 350 oC.
Downloads
References
S. Vanalakar, P. Patil, and J. Kim, “Recent advances in synthesis of Cu2FeSnS4 materials for solar cell applications: A review”, Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, 182, 204-219 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solmat.2018.03.021
J. Trajic, M. Romcevic, M. Petrovic, M. Gilic, P. Balaz, A. Zorkovska, and N. Romcevic, “Optical properties of the mechanochemically synthesized Cu2FeSnS4 (stannite) nanocrystals: Raman study”, Optical Materials, 75, 314-318 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.optmat.2017.10.043
M. Cao, C. Li, B. Zhang, J. Huang, L. Wang, and Y. Shen, “PVP assisted solvothermal synthesis of uniform Cu2FeSnS4 nanospheres”, Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 622, 695-702 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jallcom.2014.10.164
M. Adelifard, “Preparation and characterization of Cu2FeSnS4 quaternary semiconductor thin films via the spray pyrolysis technique for photovoltaic applications”, Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis, 122, 209-215 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaap.2016.09.022
Z.T. Khodair, N.A. Bakr, A. M. Hassan, and A.A. Kamil, "Influence of Substrate temperature and thickness on structural and optical properties of CZTS nanostructures thin films", Journal of Ovonic Research, 15, 377-385 (2019).
M.A. Abed, N.A. Bakr, and S.B. Mohammed, “Synthesis and Characterization of Chemically Spayed Cu2FeSnS4 (CTFS) Thin Films: The Effect of Substrate Temperature”, Materials Science Forum, 1039, 434-441 (2021). https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/MSF.1039.434
M.A. Abed, N.A. Bakr, and J. Al-Zanganawee, “Structural, Optical and Electrical Properties of Cu2NiSnS4 Thin Films Deposited by Chemical Spray Pyrolysis Method”, Chalcogenide Letters, 17, 179-186 (2020).
S.G. Nilange, N.M. Patil, and A.A. Yadav, “Growth and characterization of spray deposited quaternary Cu2FeSnS4 semiconductor thin films.”, Physica B: Condensed Matter, 560, 103-110 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physb.2019.02.008
M. Benchikri, O. Zaberca, R. El Ouatib, B. Durand, F. Oftinger, A. Balocchi, and J.Y. Chane-Ching, "A high temperature route to the formation of highly pure quaternary chalcogenide particles", Mater. Lett. 68, 340–343 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matlet.2011.10.105
W. Daranfed, M.S. Aida, A. Hafdallah, and H. Lekiket, "Substrate temperature influence on ZnS thin films prepared by ultrasonic spray", Thin Solid Films, 518, 1082-1084 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tsf.2009.03.227
H. Hussein, and A. Yazdani, “Spin-coated Cu2CrSnS4 thin film: A potential candidate for thin film solar cells”, Materials Science in Semiconductor Processing, 91, 58-65 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mssp.2018.11.005
A. Sharma, P. Sahoo, A. Singha, S. Padhan, G. Udayabhanu, and R. Thangavel, "Efficient visible-light-driven water splitting performance of sulfidation-free, solution processed Cu2MgSnS4 thin films: role of post-drying temperature", Solar Energy, 203, 284-295 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2020.04.027
S. Dridi, N. Bitri, and M. Abaab, “Synthesis of quaternary Cu2NiSnS4 thin films as a solar energy material prepared through «spray» technique”, Materials Letters, 204, 61–64 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matlet.2017.06.028
H.J. Ahmed, A.A. Kamil, A.A. Habeeb, and N.A. Bakr, “The influence of Deposition Temperature on the Properties of Chemically Sprayed Nanostructured Cu2CdSnS4 Thin Films”, International Research Journal of Science and Technology, 1, 149 155 (2020). https://doi.org/10.46378/irjst.2020.010211
D. Fikri, A. Yuwono, N. Sofyan, T. Arini, and L. Lalasari, “The effect of substrate heating temperature upon spray pyrolysis process on the morphological and functional properties of fluorine tin oxide conducting glass”, AIP Conference Proceedings, 1826, 1–9 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4979219
R.R. Prabhakar, N.H. Loc, M.H. Kumar, P.P. Boix, S. Juan, R.A. John, S.K. Batabyal, and L.H. Wong, "Facile water-based spray pyrolysis of earth-abundant Cu2FeSnS4 thin films as an efficient counter electrode in dye-sensitized solar cells", ACS applied materials & interfaces, 20, 17661–17667 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1021/am503888v
C. Dong, G.Y. Ashebir, J. Qi, J. Chen, Z. Wana, W. Chen, and M. Wang, "Solution-processed Cu2FeSnS4 thin films for photovoltaic application", Materials Letters, 214, 287-289 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matlet.2017.12.032
C. Yan, C. Huang, J. Yang, F. Liu, J. Liu, Y. Lai, J. Lib, and Y. Liua, "Synthesis and characterizations of quaternary Cu2FeSnS4 nanocrystals", Chemical Communications, 20, 2603-2605 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1039/C2CC16972J
J. M. Pawlikowski, "Preparation and characterization of close-spaced vapour transport thin films of ZnSe for heterojunction solar cells", Thin Solid Films, 127, 9-28 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1016/0040-6090(85)90209-3
W.H. Koschel, F. Sorger, and J. Baars, "Optical phonons in I-III-VI2 compounds", Le Journal De Physique Colloques, 36, C3 177 C3 181 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1051/jphyscol:1975332
S. Dridi, N. Bitri, and M. Abaab, "Synthesis of quaternary Cu2NiSnS4 thin films as a solar energy material prepared through «spray» technique." Materials Letters, 204, 61-64 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matlet.2017.06.028
P.S. Maldar, M.A. Gaikwad, A.A. Mane, S.S. Nikam, S.P. Desai, S.D. Giri, A. Sarkar, and A.V. Moholkar, "Fabrication of Cu2CoSnS4 thin films by a facile spray pyrolysis for photovoltaic application." Solar Energy, 158, 89-99 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2017.09.036
N.A. Bakr, Z.T. Khodair, and H.I. Mahdi, “Influence of Thiourea Concentration on Some Physical Properties of Chemically Sprayed Cu2ZnSnS4 Thin Films”, International Journal of Materials Science and Applications, 5, 261-270 (2016). https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijmsa.20160506.15
S.A. Hameed, N.A. Bakr, A.M. Hassan, and A.N. Jasim, “Structural and optical properties of Cu2ZnSnS4 thin films fabricated by chemical spray pyrolysis”, AIP Conference Proceedings. 2213, 10.1063-5.0000316 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0000310
A. Ghosh, A. Biswas, R. Thangavel, and G. Udayabhanu, “Photo-electrochemical properties and electronic band structure of kesterite copper chalcogenide Cu2–II–Sn–S4 (II = Fe, Co, Ni) thin films”, RSC Advances, 6, 96025-96034 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1039/C6RA15700A
S. Lee, J. Kim, H. Woo, Y. Jo, A. Inamdar, S. Pawar, H. Kim, W. Jung, and H. Im, “Structural, morphological, compositional, and optical properties of single step electrodeposited Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) thin films for solar cell application”, Current Applied Physics, 14, 254-258 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cap.2013.11.028
Copyright (c) 2022 Huda Talib, Nabeel A. Bakr, Mohammed A. Abed
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgment of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).