Non-vacuum processed Cu2ZnSnS4 thin films: Influence of copper precursor on structural, optical and morphological properties

In this study, thin film of Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) has been successfully deposited by sol-gel dip-coating method on glass substrates. In the sol-gel process, glacial acetic acid, ethanol and triethanolamine were used as solvent and stabilizer. Three different copper precursors of copper (III) nitrate hemipentahydrate, copper (II) 2-ethylhexanoate and copper (II) acetate in the solution were used to obtain CZTS thin films. Effect of copper precursor on the structural, morphological and optical properties was investigated. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy studies showed that CZTS thin films exhibited kesterite structure with a (1 1 2) plane preferred orientation and Raman shift of 336 cm−1, respectively.