Cu2ZnSnSe4 thin film solar cells based on a single-step co-evaporation process

Abstract Cu 2 ZnSnSe 4 (CZTSe) thin films were deposited on Mo-coated soda–lime glass substrates by single-stage co-evaporation process and the effect of substrate temperature ( T sub ) was investigated on the CZTSe thin film growth during the process. The film thickness decreased and the grain size increased with increasing T sub . The optimum substrate temperature to obtain CZTSe films was found to be 593 K. The film grown at T sub of 773 K seems to have the phase decomposition into Cu x Se and ZnSe, probably because of Sn loss during the process. The best cell fabricated with a CZTSe absorber layer grown at T sub of 593 K produced 2.88% of conversion efficiency.