Cu 2 ZnSnS 4 Electrodeposition by Sulfurization of Metallic Precursors

Abstract

This work describes the electrodeposition of a Cu-Zn-Sn precursoron conducting glass that transforms into Cu2ZnSnS4 during a heattreatment at 500 °C in vaporized sulfur. Citrate and hydroxylconcentrations were adjusted to fix the pH value in 5.9, so thatCu2ZnSnS4 could be deposited on top of ZnO in solar cells built insuperstrate configuration. The deposits were characterized by X-raydiffraction, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electronic microscopy,UV-Vis spectroscopy and photoelectrochemical techniques.Cu2ZnSnS4 films obtained with short electrodeposition times aregood-quality, p-type absorbers suitable to be used in kesterite thinfilms solar cells. The most promising results were obtained using 0.1mol L-1 sodium citrate, which is attributed to a higher Zn content inthe precursor deposit.