Studies Based on a New Precursor Solution for CZTS Solar Absorber

Abstract

In this thesis work, the author investigate an unexplored combination of sulphur source and solvent to synthesize a molecular precursor solution for making good quality Cu2ZnSnS4(CZTS)/Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 films and nanoparticles. As prepared precursor solution was stable for more than 20 months, which was made using the non toxic solvent 2-methoxyethanol with thioacetamide as the sulfur source. Thesis contains nine chapters with the first chapter providing the introduction to the thesis topic and the various techniques used. Second chapter discusses the formulation of the novel precursor solution and the results of the attempts made to understand its exceptional stability by probing the underlying chemistry between its components.Subsequent two chapters discuss the use of this precursor solution for making good quality CZTS films for solar cell device applications, by dip coating and atmospheric plasma jet printing route. Efficient heterojunction solar cells were made on glass/ITO and PET/ITO substrates using these methods at very low temperatures of annealing/drying. Also, the highly stable precursor solution was used to synthesis CZTS nanoparticles by a simple aging route and this work is described in chapter V newline