8.6% Efficient CZTSSe Solar Cells Sprayed from Water-Ethanol CZTS Colloidal Solutions

J Phys Chem Lett. 2014 Nov 6;5(21):3763-7. doi: 10.1021/jz501864a. Epub 2014 Oct 16.

Abstract

Copper zinc tin sulfide-selenide, Cu2ZnSn(S1-xSex)4 (CZTSSe), thin film photovoltaic devices were fabricated using a fast and environmentally friendly preparation method, consisting of the following steps: An instantaneous synthesis of a Cu-Zn-Sn-S (no Se) colloid, a nonpyrolytic spray of a dispersion of this colloid in a water-ethanol mixture, and a sequential annealing first in a N2 atmosphere and second in a Se atmosphere. The achievement of cell efficiencies up to 8.6% under AM1.5G (cell area 0.25 cm(2)) and without antireflecting coating indicates that this method can compete with other vacuum-based or more complex wet deposition methods.

Keywords: CZTS; colloid; kesterite; nanoparticle; solar cells; spray; water.