The impact of precursor thickness and surface roughness on the power factor of Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) at near room temperature: Spin-coating deposition. (December 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ahmoum, Hassan; Li, Guojian; Su'ait, Mohd Sukor; Boughrara, Mourad; Chelvanathan, Puvaneswaran; Khaaissa, Yassine; Kerouad, Mohamed; Wang, Qiang
• Is Part Of: Superlattices and microstructures. Volume 160(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-12
• Subjects: CZTS -- Spin-coating -- Thermoelectric -- Layers numbers -- Surface roughness; Superlattices as materials -- Periodicals; Microstructure -- Periodicals; Semiconductors -- Periodicals; Superréseaux -- Périodiques; Microstructure (Physique) -- Périodiques; Semiconducteurs -- Périodiques; 621.38152
• DOI: 10.1016/j.spmi.2021.107091
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0749-6036

Abstract

Abstract: This work investigated the thermoelectric properties of Cu2 ZnSnS4 (CZTS) thin films deposited on the soda-lime glass using spin-coating techniques with different layers. X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern confirms the increase of the layer number leads to improve the crystallite size and all the films exhibit tetragonal structure with the presence of secondary phases. EDX shows a reduction of Cu and Zn contents while an increase in Sn contents is observed when the thickness increases. Surface topography is also carried out to study the surface roughness and it is found to be minimum when we deposit 4 layers. The absorption spectra show that CZTS exhibit a bandgap varied between 1.33 and 1.9 eV, the resistivity and the Seebeck coefficient have been found to increase with the increase of surface roughness. This investigation indicates that Cu2 ZnSnS4 thin films can be a suitable material for thermoelectric application at near room temperature range. Highlights: CZTS thin films have been deposited by spin coating technique. Effect of thickness have been investigated. The increase of thickness lead to reduce the electrical conductivity. Thickness is an important parameter that should be controlled.