Reactive pulsed laser deposition of Cu2ZnSnS4 thin films in H2S

Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) thin films have been grown by reactive pulsed laser deposition in H2S atmosphere, combining the alternate ablation from the metallic (Cu) and alloyed (ZnxSn) targets at room temperature. The morphological, structural and optical properties of as grown CZTS thin films with varying compositions as well as upon annealing in N2 atmosphere are investigated by Rutherford backscattering spectrometry, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy and optical spectrophotometry. The chemical bonding in the “bulk” of the CZTS films is elucidated via hard X-ray photoemission spectroscopy measurements. The formation of the good quality stoichiometric polycrystalline CZTS films is demonstrated upon optimization of the growth parameters.

► The new method of Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) thin films growth in H2S was realized.
► CZTS films were grown by pulsed laser deposition from Cu and alloyed Zn–Sn targets.
► The effect of the processing parameters on the CZTS properties was investigated.
► The chemical bonding in the “bulk” of CZTS films was studied.