Impact of rapid thermal annealing of Mo coated soda lime glass substrate on device performance of evaporated Cu2ZnSnS4 thin film solar cells

• Rapid thermal annealing of Mo coated glass substrate has been investigated.
• This annealing is industry compatible.
• This annealing boosts CZTS efficiency from 1.12% to 2.56%.
• The annealing enhances the CZTS absorber grain growth.

An industry compatible annealing method-rapid thermal annealing (RTA) of Mo coated soda lime glass substrate has been investigated to improve evaporated Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) thin film solar cell efficiency. It indicates that the RTA treatment makes the Mo film dense, facilitates the column growth of the Mo film and the growth of the CZTS absorber though it enhances the formation of voids and secondary phases in the meantime. Also, this treatment causes low absorption of the absorber. Consequently, the treatment enhances open circuit voltage (VOC) as well as efficiency dramatically, improves fill factor (FF) mildly; though lowers the short circuit current density (JSC) slightly.