Low-cost Cu2ZnSnS4 thin films prepared from single step electrodeposited Cu/Zn/Sn alloy precursor films

• Cu/Zn/Sn alloy films were prepared by single step electrodeposition.
• Suppressed hydrogen evolution reaction.
• Homogeneous and compact Cu2ZnSnS4 absorber layer was fabricated.
• Photovoltaic activities were evaluated.

The Cu/Zn/Sn (CZT) alloy films were prepared by a single step electrodeposition method on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) substrates. In order to suppress the hydrogen evolution reaction, the pH value of the electrolytic solution was adjusted to 7.0 using diethanol amine. The homogeneous and compact Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) absorber materials with better crystallinity were obtained by the subsequent sulfurization. The Raman spectra have not shown any secondary phases when the sulfurization temperature increased to 580 °C. In order to evaluate their photovoltaic activities, the obtained CZTS films were introduced into the QDSSCs as counter electrodes. The highest conversion efficiency of 1.6% with a Voc of 507 mV and a Jsc of 11.2 mA/cm2 were achieved. The high performances of the electrodeposited CZTS CE indicated that they were suitable for application in environmentally-friendly thin film solar cells.

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