Cu₂ZnSnS₄ thin film solar cells by fast coevaporation

Abstract

Abstract Solar cells based on kesterite‐type Cu 2 ZnSnS 4 (CZTS) were fabricated on molybdenum coated soda lime glass by evaporation using ZnS, Sn, Cu, and S sources. The coevaporation process was performed at a nominal substrate temperature of 550°C and at a sulfur partial pressure of 2–3 × 10 −3 Pa leading to polycrystalline CZTS thin films with promising electronic properties. The CZTS absorber layers were grown copper‐rich, requiring a KCN etch step to remove excess copper sulfide. The compositional ratios as determined by energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDX) after the KCN etch are Cu/(Zn + Sn): 1.0 and Zn/Sn: 1.0. A solar cell with an efficiency of 4.1% and an open‐circuit voltage of 541 mV was obtained. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.