Synthesis of quaternary chaicogenide CZTS nanoparticles by a hydrothermal route

摘要

Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) has emerged as a potential absorber towards inorganic photovoltaic device application for its outstanding properties like non toxicity, earth abundancy nature, optimal band gap matched with solar spectrum (1.45- 1.65eV), high absorption coefficient (10~4cm~(-1)). Here, a low cost, environment friendly facile hydrothermal route to synthesize phase pure CZTS nanoparticles using Cu (II), Zn (II), Sn (II) inorganic metal salts and thiourea as Sulphur source in distilled water solution as precursor is reported. The as synthesized samples characterized by X-Ray diffraction (XRD) and RAMAN confirmed structure and phase of CZTS nanocrystals. The morphology of the prepared CZTS have been characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The particle size is found in the range 4-5 nm with crystalline nature have been characterized by transmission electron microscope (TEM). The optical band gap of the as prepared samples is calculated to be 1.65eV from UV-Visible analysis which proves it can be used towards photovoltaic applications.