Non-toxic precursor solution route for fabrication of CZTS solar cell based on all layers solution processed

Generating electrical energy from solar light energy using Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) absorber materials is an example of the green technology. The advantage of CZTS is that it contains earth abundant materials but the process of conversion of energy involves techniques and chemicals which adversely affect human and environmental health. Therefore, it is desirable to develop a non-toxic, eco-friendly method of conversion of energy. In this work, we demonstrate a non-toxic method to fabricate a CZTS solar cell based on all layers solution processed. The absorber CZTS and buffer CdS layers are deposited by using precursor solution in 2-methoxyethanol as non-toxic solvent and sintered at 250 °C under ambient condition. The window layer is fabricated by using silver nanowire and ZnO precursor solution. A solar cell fabricated by deposition of all three layers on Mo-glass substrate exhibits efficiency of 2.03 ± 0.40% with short circuit current density of 15.2 ± 0.7 mA/cm2, open circuit voltage of 0.43 ± 0.03 V and fill factor of 31 ± 3%.