Construction of self-assembled vertical nanoflakes on CZTSSe thin films

Abstract

Cu2ZnSn(S, Se)4 (CZTSSe) is a promising alternative absorber material to achieve high power conversion efficiencies, besides its property of involving low-cost and earth-abundant elements when compared to Cu(In, Ga)Se2 (CIGS) and cadmium telluride (CdTe), to be used in solar cell technology. In this study, a novel fabrication technique was developed by utilizing RF sputtering deposition of CZTSSe thin films having a surface decorated with self-assembled nanoflakes. The formation of nanoflakes was investigated by detailed spectroscopic method of analysis in the effect of each stacked layer deposition in an optimized sequence and the size of nanoflakes by an accurate control of sputtering process including film thickness. Moreover, the effects of substrate temperature on the formation of nanoflakes on the film surface were discussed at a fixed deposition route. One of the main advantages arising from the film surface with self-assembled nanoflakes is the efficient light trapping which decreases the surface reflectance. As a result of the detailed production and characterization studies, it was observed that there was a possibility of repeatable and controllable fabrication sequence for the preparation of CZTSSe thin films with self-textured surfaces yielding low surface reflectance. © 2018 IOP Publishing Ltd.