Influence of boric acid concentration on the properties of electrodeposited CZTS absorber layers
Mohamed Yassine Zaki, Khalid Nouneh, M. Ebn Touhamı, Elena Matei, P. Badica, M. Burdusel, Cătălin Negrila, M. Baibarac, L. Pintilie, Aurelian Catalin Galca
Abstract
Abstract This work involves the synthesis and characterization of <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" overflow="scroll"> <mml:msub> <mml:mrow> <mml:mi>Cu</mml:mi> </mml:mrow> <mml:mrow> <mml:mn>2</mml:mn> </mml:mrow> </mml:msub> <mml:msub> <mml:mrow> <mml:mi>ZnSnS</mml:mi> </mml:mrow> <mml:mrow> <mml:mn>4</mml:mn> </mml:mrow> </mml:msub> </mml:math> (CZTS) layers. The films were prepared on Mo/glass substrates by single-step electrodeposition method followed by sulfurization at 500 °C under argon flow. The effect of boric acid concentration on the crystallographic structure, compositional and morphological properties of CZTS films was investigated, with the objective to understand the growth behavior and to enhance the film properties. Cyclic Voltammetry was used in order to estimate the adequate deposition potential for the CZT alloy. The x-ray diffraction analysis showed the formation of the kesterite phase in all the samples. The Raman and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy studies confirmed the existence of the CZTS phase. The scanning electron microscopy was employed to inspect the films structure. The results indicated that increasing the concentration of boric acid affects the physico-chemical properties of the films.