Optimization of Electrodeposition Time on the Properties of Cu2ZnSnS4 Thin Films for Thin Film Solar Cell Applications

Abstract Electrochemical deposition was used to create a quaternary CZTS (Cu2ZnSnS4) kesterite thin layer. An aqueous solution of CZTS was used to deposit a thin layer over Indium Tin Oxide. The effects of deposition time (variation) on CZTS thin films under ambient conditions were investigated in this study. Several available characterization systems were used to study the samples as they were produced. The polycrystalline description of the layer is inveterate by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The SEM as well as AFM study show that deposition time improved surface morphology and topography of CZTS thin films which increase several nm in grain size. Furthermore, depending upon the deposition duration, the optical study reveals an acceptable bandgap in a range of 1.44 to 1.71 eV. Characteristics of high-quality CZTS absorber layers for solar cell applications are discovered to be affected by deposition time variation. To check the effect of this bandgap variation (1.44 to 1.71 eV) on the performance of a CZTS based thin film solar cell, a simulation software SCAPS-1D is being used.