Abstract
Quaternary Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) nanoparticles of high quality have been synthesized utilizing rotary evaporation technique. The volume of the solvent, oleylamine (OLM), was found to affect the morphological, structural and electrical characteristics of the synthesized structures. The materials were characterized using various analytical techniques. XRD patterns and Raman measurements reveal that CZTS nanoparticles exist in a crystalline state with a kesterite structure. For OLM of 6 mL, transmission electron microscopy reveals the formation of spherical CZTS nanoparticles. Scanning electron microscopy analysis of the nanocrystal thin films clearly shows a crack-free, uniform-grain thin film with a particle size in the range between 1 and 2 mu m. Ultraviolet-visible-near infrared (UV-Vis-NIR) spectra showed a direct band gap of 1.47 eV, which is close to the optimum value required for photovoltaic applications. The current synthetic strategy is rapid and simple, and it can be utilized for commercial application. Solar cells were built using the structure glass/Mo/CZTS/CdS/i-ZnO/AZO/Ag and were found to exhibit a conversion efficiency of about 2%.