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Substrate effect temperature on Cu₂ZnSnS₄ thin films deposited by ultrasonic technique

W. Daranfed⁽¹⁾, R. Fassi⁽¹⁾, A. Hafdallah⁽¹⁾, F. Ynineb⁽¹⁾, N. Attaf⁽¹⁾, M.S.Aida⁽¹⁾, L. Hadjeris^(1,2), H. Rinnert⁽³⁾ and J. Bougdira⁽³⁾

⁽¹⁾Laboratory of Thin films and Interface, Exact Faculty of Science, Department of Physics, University Mentouri of Constantine 25000 Algeria, e-mail: daranfadouarda@hotmail.com

⁽²⁾ Laboratoire des Matériaux, et structures des Systèmes électromécaniques et leurs Fiabilité, University Larbi ben Mhidi OEB Algeria,

⁽³⁾Institute Jean Lamour UMR 7198, Department CP2S University of Nancy.

Received: 23 May 2011, accepted: 30 September 2011

Abstract

Cu₂ZnSnS₄ (CZTS) thin films are a potential candidate for absorber layer in thin film solar cells. CZTS films were deposited by spray ultrasonic technique. An aqueous solution composed of copper chloride, zinc acetate, tin chloride and thiourea like precursors is sprayed on heated glass substrates at various temperatures. The substrate temperature was changed from 280°C to 360°C in order to investigate its influence on CZTS films properties. The DRX analyses indicated that Cu₂ZnSnS₄ films have nanocrystalline structure with (112) preferential orientation and a crystalline size, ranged from 30 to 50 nm with increasing substrate temperature. The obtained films are composed of SnS, ZnO, ZnS and Cu₂ZnSnS₄ phases. The optical films characterization was carried by the measurement of UV-visible transmission. The optical gap was deduced from the absorption spectra. Broad emissions at around 1.27 eV was observed in the photoluminescence spectrum measured at 77 K.

Keywords: CZTS, photoluminescence, thin films, Transmission, spray technique, XRD.