journal article·2026-06-26Open access

Effect of Annealing on the Optical Properties of Copper Zinc Tin Sulfide (CZTS) Thin Films Deposited Using a Modified Successive Ionic Layer Adsorption and Reaction (SILAR) Method

Tahar Tahouri, Hamid Khachab, Faouzi Saidi, Abdelghani Laouer, Bernabé Mari Soucase, Mohamed Teggar, Naceur Selmane

Abstract

Copper zinc tin sulfide (CZTS) films deposited using a modified successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) method were annealed in air. Surface growth was examined using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. With a suitable orientation in plane (112) at 2θ = 27.88°, the films crystallized in a kesterite structure. The impacts of annealing temperature and time on film optical properties were investigated using absorption and transmission spectroscopy. Whereas SILAR-grown CZTS films usually exhibit a somewhat disorganized nanocrystalline structure and band gaps of 1.3–1.8 eV, annealing lowered the band gap to 1.4–1.5 eV and improved absorption while weakly affecting composition. The films annealed at 250 °C for 120 min had a band gap of 1.3 eV and at 250 °C for 90 min displayed advantageous optical properties, namely an optical band gap of 1.5 eV, refractive index of 2.9, high-frequency dielectric constant of 8.5, and static dielectric constant of 13.900. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of the modified SILAR deposition method.
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Research context

OpenAlex topics: Chalcogenide Semiconductor Thin Films · Quantum Dots Synthesis And Properties · ZnO doping and properties

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

Faculty of Technology Sciences, University Amar Telidji, 03000 Laghouat, Algeria

Laboratory of Development Renewables Energys and Their Applications in Sahara Areas (LDREAS), Faculty of Exact Sciences, Tahri Mohammed University, 08000 Bechar, Algeria

Laboratoire de Mico-Optoelectronique et Nanostructures, Faculté des Sciences, Université de Monastir, 5000 Monastir, Tunisia

Departement of physics, Faculty of Exact Sciences and Computer Science, University of Jijel, 18000 Jijel, Algeria

Instituto de diseño y Fabricación (IDF), Universitat Politècnica de València, 46022 València, Spain

Laboratory of Mechanics, Laghouat University, 03000 Laghouat, Algeria

Laboratoire Matériaux, Systèmes Énergétiques, Énergies Renouvelables et Gestion de l’Énergie (LMSEERGE), University Amar Telidji, 03000 Laghouat, Algeria

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