DataVXApplied Physics APaper
journal article·2026-08

Decoupling kinetic and thermal effects in RF sputtered Cu2​ZnSnS4​ thin films for solar cell application

Kalyan B. Chavan, Sachin V. Desarada, Marut Salve, Shweta Chaure, Nandu B. Chaure

Applied Physics A· Volume 132· Issue 8
Publisher page
Bibliographic record

Abstract

No abstract is available for this record. The assistant can identify its topic from the title, but cannot infer the study’s results.

Source: Not provided · Quality: missing

Research context

OpenAlex topics: Chalcogenide Semiconductor Thin Films · Surface Roughness and Optical Measurements · Chemical and Physical Properties of Materials

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

References (66)

Show source-provided references
1. F.A. Jhuma, M.Z. Shaily, M.J. Rashid, Towards high-efficiency CZTS solar cell through buffer layer optimization. Mater. Renew. Sustain. Energy. (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40243-019-0144-110.1007/s40243-019-0144-1 ↗
2. M. Sahu, V.R.M. Reddy, B.-M. Kim, B.S. Patro, C. Park, W.K. Kim, P. Sharma, Fabrication of Cu2ZnSnS4 light absorber using a cost-effective mechanochemical method for photovoltaic applications. Materials 15, 1708 (2022). https://doi.org/10.3390/ma1505170810.3390/ma15051708 ↗
3. P. Hajara, T.P. Rose, M.K. Jayaraj, K.J. Saji, Influence of H2S on the growth of sputter deposited Cu2ZnSnS4 thin film. IOP Conf. Ser.: Mater. Sci. Eng. 1166, 012008 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1088/1757-899x/1166/1/01200810.1088/1757-899x/1166/1/012008 ↗
4. A. Paraye, R. Manivannan, S.N. Victoria, Preparation of CZTS deposits on Gold substrate by electrochemical deposition- annealing effect. Chalcogenide Lett. 17, 77–83 (2020). https://doi.org/10.15251/cl.2020.172.7710.15251/cl.2020.172.77 ↗
5. A. Krishnan, K.R. Ali, G. Vishnu, P. Kannan, Towards phase pure CZTS thin films by SILAR method with augmented Zn adsorption for photovoltaic applications. Mater. Renew. Sustain. Energy 8, 16 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40243-019-0152-110.1007/s40243-019-0152-1 ↗
6. M.H. Sharif, T. Enkhbat, E. Enkhbayar, J. Kim, Control of defect states of Kesterite solar cells to achieve more than 11% power conversion efficiency. ACS Appl. Energy Mater. 3, 8500–8508 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1021/acsaem.0c0114110.1021/acsaem.0c01141 ↗
7. K. Pandey, B.C. Mohanty, Facile single step synthesis of Cu2ZnSnS4 thin films by sputtering from a single target and their electrical characterization. J. Alloys Compd. 925, 166657 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jallcom.2022.16665710.1016/j.jallcom.2022.166657 ↗
8. L. Dong, S. Tao, M. Zhao, D. Zhuang, Y. Wang, H. Wang, M. Jia, J. Han, H. Zhu, Crystallization mechanism and defect passivation of Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 thin film solar cells via in situ Potassium doping. J. Mater. Chem. A 11, 20139–20150 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1039/d3ta03421f10.1039/d3ta03421f ↗
9. M.Y. Zaki, F. Sava, A.-T. Buruiană, I. Şimăndan, N. Becherescu, A.C. Galca, C. Mihai, A. Velea, Synthesis and characterization of Cu2ZnSnS4 thin films obtained by combined magnetron sputtering and pulsed laser deposition. Nanomaterials 11, 2403 (2021). https://doi.org/10.3390/nano1109240310.3390/nano11092403 ↗
10. K.B. Chavan, S.V. Desarada, S. Chaure, N.B. Chaure, Dark current in FTO/CZTS interface: a comprehensive comparison of practical vs theoretical approach using SCAPS-1D. Phys. Scr. 99, 115947 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1088/1402-4896/ad7b8210.1088/1402-4896/ad7b82 ↗
11. P. Amrit, S. Jain, M. Tomar, V. Gupta, B. Joshi, Synthesis and characterization of sol gel derived nontoxic CZTS thin films without sulfurization. Int. J. Appl. Ceram. Technol. 17, 1194–1200 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1111/ijac.1345110.1111/ijac.13451 ↗
12. M.Y. Zaki, A. Velea, Recent progress and challenges in controlling secondary phases in Kesterite CZT(S/Se) thin films: a critical review. Energies 17, 1600 (2024). https://doi.org/10.3390/en1707160010.3390/en17071600 ↗
13. T. Ratz, G. Brammertz, R. Caballero, M. León, S. Canulescu, J. Schou, L. Gütay, D. Pareek, T. Taskesen, D. Kim, J.-K. Kang, C. Malerba, A. Redinger, E. Saucedo, B. Shin, H. Tampo, K. Timmo, N.D. Nguyen, B. Vermang, Physical routes for the synthesis of Kesterite. J. Phys. Energy. 1, 042003 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1088/2515-7655/ab281c10.1088/2515-7655/ab281c ↗
14. J.V.M. Lima, R.A. Silva, S.B.O. Santos, C.F.O. Graeff, L.V.A. Scalvi, Synthesis and characterization of Cu2–xS structures by different chemical routes for electronic applications. Mater. Res. 24 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1590/1980-5373-mr-2021-001810.1590/1980-5373-mr-2021-0018 ↗
15. Y. Mao, T. Wang, Y. Jian, Y. Huang, Y. Deng, E. Gu, X. Lin, G. Yang, 12.86% efficient Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 thin film solar cells via inkjet printing with 2-Methoxyethanol‐Based air‐stable precursor ink. Adv. Funct. Mater. (2024). https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.20241668910.1002/adfm.202416689 ↗
16. B.D. Cullity, E.O.X. Ray Diffraction, 2014. https://archive.org/details/elementsofxraydi030864mbp
17. L. Motevalizadeh, M. Tahani, A phenomenological study of chromium impurity effects on lattice microstrains of SnO2 nanoparticles prepared using Sol–Gel technique. Crystals 13, 919 (2023). https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst1306091910.3390/cryst13060919 ↗
18. K.B. Chavan, S.V. Desarada, N.B. Chaure, Structural and optical investigations on direct current (DC) magnetron sputtered CZTS thin film. Mater. Today Proc. 68, 2687–2690 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2022.05.23410.1016/j.matpr.2022.05.234 ↗
19. K.B. Chavan, S. Chaure, N.B. Chaure, Effect of post-annealing on RF-sputtered CZTS absorber layer for solar cell application. J. Mater. Sci. Mater. Electron. 36, 447 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-025-14490-y10.1007/s10854-025-14490-y ↗
20. A. Almohammedi, E.R. Shaaban, Spectroscopic ellipsometry and photovoltaic characteristics for N-CdS/P- Cu2ZnSnS4 heterojunction by annealing for solar cells. Chalcogenide Lett. 19, 701–714 (2022). https://doi.org/10.15251/cl.2022.1910.70110.15251/cl.2022.1910.701 ↗
21. A.A. Ahmad, A.B. Migdadi, A. Alsaad, I.A. Qattan, Q.M. Al-Bataineh, A. Telfah, Computational and experimental characterizations of annealed Cu2ZnSnS4 thin films. Heliyon 8, e08683 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e0868310.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e08683 ↗
22. M. Soltanmohammadi, V. Karimi, S. Alee, M. Abrari, M. Ahmadi, M. Ghanaatshoar, Cu2ZnSnS4 thin film as a counter electrode in zinc stannate-based dye-sensitized solar cells. Semicond. Sci. Technol. 36, 105008 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6641/ac196210.1088/1361-6641/ac1962 ↗
23. S.P. Shylendra, W. Lonsdale, M. Wajrak, M. Nur-E‐Alam, K. Alameh, Titanium nitride thin film based low-redox-interference potentiometric pH sensing electrodes. Sensors 21, 42 (2020). https://doi.org/10.3390/s2101004210.3390/s21010042 ↗
24. N.P. Patel, K.V. Chauhan, Effects of Argon partial pressure variations on wettability and anti-icing characteristics of Aluminum doped ZnO thin films. Mater. Res. (2023). https://doi.org/10.1590/1980-5373-mr-2022-033910.1590/1980-5373-mr-2022-0339 ↗
25. Z.-Y. Li, S. Chen, Q.-H. Huo, M.-H. Liao, M. Dai, S. Lin, T. Yang, H. Sun, Influence of sputtering power on the electrical properties of in-Sn-Zn oxide thin films deposited by high power impulse magnetron sputtering. Coatings 9, 715 (2019). https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings911071510.3390/coatings9110715 ↗
26. M.I.A. Samad, S.I. Badrudin, M. Mansor, N. Nayan, A.S.A. Bakar, M.Z.M. Yusop, R. Latif, Thin film sputter-deposition of AlN crystals in oxygenated chamber: A pilot study. Mater. Res. Express 12, 011501 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1088/2053-1591/ad9b7010.1088/2053-1591/ad9b70 ↗
27. P. Hajara, T.P. Rose, K.J. Saji, Effect of substrate temperature and RF power on the structural and optical properties of sputtered ZnO thin films. J. Phys. Conf. Ser. 2357, 012018 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/2357/1/01201810.1088/1742-6596/2357/1/012018 ↗
28. E.A. Botchway, F.K. Ampong, I. Nkrumah, D.B. Puzer, R.K. Nkum, F. Boakye, The CZTS Thin Films Grown by Sulfurization of Electrodeposited Metallic Precursors: The Effect of Increasing Tin Content of the Metallic Precursors on the Structure, Morphology and Optical Properties of the Thin Films. East. Eur. J. Phys. 249–256 (2023). https://doi.org/10.26565/2312-4334-2023-2-2810.26565/2312-4334-2023-2-28 ↗
29. J. Chen, F. Wang, B. Yang, X. Peng, Q. Chen, J. Zou, X. Dou, Fabrication of Cu2ZnSnS4 thin films based on facile nanocrystals-printing approach with rapid thermal annealing (RTA) process. Coatings 9, 130 (2019). https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings902013010.3390/coatings9020130 ↗
30. X. Hu, J. Qiao, J. Zhou, J. Bao, W. He, Enhanced Sonocatalytic Performance of PEG-modified Hierarchical Cu2ZnSnS4 Microspheres in Methylene Blue Degradation, (2022). https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-1939443/v110.21203/rs.3.rs-1939443/v1 ↗
31. H. Cai, Y. Xia, C. Dao, J. Li, L. Lin, X. Kong, S. Chen, Z. Huang, G. Chen, Ambient-air sulfurization process for Cu2ZnSnS4 thin film solar cells: Self-creating inert atmosphere using sulfur vapor. ACS Appl. Energy Mater. 2, 7279–7287 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1021/acsaem.9b0125610.1021/acsaem.9b01256 ↗
32. U. Syafiq, N. Ataollahi, R.D. Maggio, P. Scardi, Solution-based synthesis and characterization of Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) thin films. Molecules 24, 3454 (2019). https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules2419345410.3390/molecules24193454 ↗
33. W. Liu, Y.-L. Chang, H. Chen, Growth of GaN thin film on amorphous glass substrate by direct-current pulse sputtering deposition technique. Coatings 9, 419 (2019). https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings907041910.3390/coatings9070419 ↗
34. H. Wu, L. Fang, Z. Li, F. Wu, S. Zhang, G. Liu, H. Zhang, W. Li, W. Feng, Fabrication and optoelectronic properties of advanced quinary amorphous oxide semiconductor InGaZnSnO thin film. Materials 18, 2090 (2025). https://doi.org/10.3390/ma1809209010.3390/ma18092090 ↗
35. Y.-S. Lee, C. Chang, B.-S. Le, N.H. Việt, T.-C. Tien, H. Lin, Effects of deposition power and annealing temperature on indium zinc oxide (IZO) film’s properties and their applications to the source–drain electrodes of amorphous indium gallium zinc oxide (A-Igzo) thin-film transistors (TFTs). Nanomaterials 15, 780 (2025). https://doi.org/10.3390/nano1511078010.3390/nano15110780 ↗
36. V.M.H. Cao, J. Bae, J. Shim, B. Hong, H. Jee, J. Lee, Fabrication of the Cu2ZnSnS4 thin film solar cell via a photo-sintering technique. Appl. Sci. 12, 38 (2021). https://doi.org/10.3390/app1201003810.3390/app12010038 ↗
37. S. Abdullahi, M. Momoh, A.U. Moreh, A.M. Bayawa, A. Saidu, Synthesis and Characterization of CZTS Thin Films From Compound Target Deposited by RF Sputtering Method, IOP Conf. Ser. Mater. Sci. Eng. 805, 012001 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1088/1757-899x/805/1/01200110.1088/1757-899x/805/1/012001 ↗
38. M. Valakh, O.F. Kolomys, S.S. Ponomaryov, V.O. Yukhymchuk, I.S. Babichuk, V. Izquierdo-Roca, E. Saucedo, A. Pérez-Rodríguez, J.R. Morante, S. Schorr, I.V. Bodnar, Raman scattering and disorder effect in Cu2ZnSnS4. Physica Status Solidi (RRL) – Rapid Research Letters 7, 258–261 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1002/pssr.20130706410.1002/pssr.201307064 ↗
39. M. Dimitrievska, A. Fairbrother, E. Saucedo, A. Pérez-Rodríguez, V. Izquierdo-Roca, Multi-wavelength Raman scattering of Cu2ZnSnS4 thin films: Correlation with cation disorder. J. Alloys Compd. 672, 486–491 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jallcom.2016.02.20310.1016/j.jallcom.2016.02.203 ↗
40. X. Tao, J. Dutson, C. Zeng, C. Asker, S. Luong, A. Reza, B. Hao, Z. Zhang, J. Ellingford, R.S. Bonilla, O. Fenwick, E. Bilotti, F. Hofmann, M.J. Thwaites, H.E. Assender, Exceptional performance of room temperature sputtered flexible thermoelectric thin film using high target utilisation sputtering technique. Adv. Mater. Technol. (2024). https://doi.org/10.1002/admt.20230195810.1002/admt.202301958 ↗
41. S. Singh, A. Sarkar, D.K. Goswami, S.K. Ray, Solution-processed Black-Si/ Cu2ZnSnS4 nanocrystal heterojunctions for self-powered broadband photodetectors and photovoltaic devices. ACS Appl. Energy Mater. 4(4), 4090–4098 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1021/acsaem.1c0044810.1021/acsaem.1c00448 ↗
42. G. Murtaza, S.A. Alderhami, Y.T. Alharbi, U. Zulfiqar, M. Hossin, A.M. Alanazi, L. Almanqur, E.U. Onche, S.P. Venkateswaran, D.J. Lewis, Scalable and universal route for the deposition of binary, ternary, and quaternary metal sulfide materials from molecular precursors. ACS Appl. Energy Mater. 3, 1952–1961 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1021/acsaem.9b0235910.1021/acsaem.9b02359 ↗
43. X. Shi, Y. Wang, H. Yu, G. Wang, L. Huang, D. Pan, Significantly improving the crystal growth of a Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 absorber layer by air-annealing a Cu2ZnSnS4 precursor thin film. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 12, 41590–41595 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.0c1263010.1021/acsami.0c12630 ↗
44. Y. Kim, I.-H. Choi, Pressure-dependent Raman spectra of Cu2GeS3 and Cu2SnS3. J. Alloys Compd. 770, 959–963 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jallcom.2018.08.20610.1016/j.jallcom.2018.08.206 ↗
45. T. Sriv, K. Kim, H. Cheong, Low-frequency Raman spectroscopy of few-layer 2H-SnS2. Sci. Rep. 8, 10194 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-28569-610.1038/s41598-018-28569-6 ↗
46. D. Ma, H. Zhou, J. Zhang, Y. Qian, Controlled synthesis and possible formation mechanism of leaf-shaped SnS2 nanocrystals. Mater. Chem. Phys. 111, 391–395 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matchemphys.2008.04.03510.1016/j.matchemphys.2008.04.035 ↗
47. T.S. Reddy, R. Amiruddin, M.S. Kumar, Deposition and characterization of Cu2SnS3 thin films by co-evaporation for photovoltaic application. Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells 143, 128–134 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solmat.2015.06.04910.1016/j.solmat.2015.06.049 ↗
48. J. de Wild, E.V.C. Robert, B. El Adib, D. Abou-Ras, P.J. Dale, Secondary phase formation during monoclinic Cu2SnS3 growth for solar cell application. Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells 157, 259–265 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solmat.2016.04.03910.1016/j.solmat.2016.04.039 ↗
49. M. Mohsseni, M.H. Majles Ara, M. Dehghani, Determination of critical total secondary phase densities in CZTS and investigation of their effects on the perovskite solar cell performance with CZTS as an HTL. Optical Materials 128, 112453 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.optmat.2022.11245310.1016/j.optmat.2022.112453 ↗
50. Z. Seboui, Y. Cuminal, N. Kamoun-Turki, Physical properties of Cu2ZnSnS4 thin films deposited by spray pyrolysis technique. Journal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy 5(2), 023113 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1063/1.479539910.1063/1.4795399 ↗
51. S.P. Ramkumar, G. Petretto, W. Chen, H.P.C. Miranda, X. Gonze, G.-M. Rignanese, First-principles investigation of CZTS Raman spectra. Physical Review Materials 6, 035403 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevMaterials.6.03540310.1103/PhysRevMaterials.6.035403 ↗
52. M. Guc, S. Levcenko, I.V. Bodnar, V. Izquierdo-Roca, X. Fontane, L.V. Volkova, E. Arushanov, A. Pérez-Rodríguez, Polarized Raman scattering study of kesterite type Cu2ZnSnS4 single crystals. Sci. Rep. 6, 19414 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/srep1941410.1038/srep19414 ↗
53. J.H. Kim, Corrigendum to “band gap tunable and improved microstructure characteristics of Cu2ZnSn(S1−x,Sex)4 thin films by annealing under atmosphere containing S and Se.” Curr. Appl. Phys. 14, 1867–1868 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cap.2014.02.00110.1016/j.cap.2014.02.001 ↗
54. B.K. Durant, B.A. Parkinson, Photovoltaic response of natural kesterite crystals. Sol. Energy Mater. Sol. Cells. 144, 586–591 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solmat.2015.09.05510.1016/j.solmat.2015.09.055 ↗
55. O.P. Singh, N. Muhunthan, V.N. Singh, K. Samanta, N. Dilawar, Effect of temperature on thermal expansion and anharmonicity in Cu2ZnSnS4 thin films grown by co-sputtering and sulfurization. Mater. Chem. Phys. 146, 452–455 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matchemphys.2014.03.05210.1016/j.matchemphys.2014.03.052 ↗
56. S. Ahmed, K.B. Reuter, O. Gunawan, L. Guo, L.T. Romankiw, H. Deligianni, A high efficiency electrodeposited Cu2ZnSnS4 solar cell. Adv. Energy Mater. 2, 253–259 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1002/aenm.20110052610.1002/aenm.201100526 ↗
57. S. Kermadi, S. Sali, F. Ait Ameur, L. Zougar, M. Boumaour, A. Toumiat, N.N. Melnik, D.W. Hewak, A. Duta, Effect of copper content and sulfurization process on optical, structural and electrical properties of ultrasonic spray pyrolysed Cu2ZnSnS4 thin films. Mater. Chem. Phys. 169, 96–104 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matchemphys.2015.11.03510.1016/j.matchemphys.2015.11.035 ↗
58. I.S. Babichuk, Y.A. Romaniuk, S. Golovynskyi, V.G. Hurtavy, A.V. Mudryi, V.D. Zhivulko, I.V. Babichuk, C. Xu, C. Lin, M. Cao, O.M. Hreshchuk, V.O. Yukhymchuk, M. Valakh, B. Li, J. Yang, Spectroscopy and theoretical modeling of phonon vibration modes and band gap energy of Cu2ZnSn(SxSe1–x)4 bulk crystals and thin films. ACS Omega 6, 29137–29148 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.1c0435610.1021/acsomega.1c04356 ↗
59. J. Raiguru, B. Subudhi, B. Subramanyam, P. Mahanandia, Intermittent sulfurization—a method promoting macro-porous Cu-poor Zn-rich—kesterite CZTS as HTM for inverted perovskite solar cell application. J. Mater. Sci. Mater. Electron. 31, 18427–18444 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-020-04388-210.1007/s10854-020-04388-2 ↗
60. S. Chennangod, N. N.K., M. M.S., M. Pattabi, T.N. Bhat, In-depth probing and analysis of secondary phases, Cu–Zn disorder, and defect dynamics in kesterite Cu2ZnSnS4 nano-ink thin films. J. Alloys Compd. 1037, 181876 (2025).https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jallcom.2025.18187610.1016/j.jallcom.2025.181876 ↗
61. J.J. Chaudhari, U.S. Joshi, Optimization of Cu2ZnSnS4 thin film absorber layer growth without sulphurization using triethanolamine as complexing agent for thin film solar cells applications. J. Mater. Sci. Mater. Electron. 29, 7048–7056 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-018-8692-110.1007/s10854-018-8692-1 ↗
62. P. Semalti, V. Sharma, S.N. Sharma, A novel method of water remediation of organic pollutants and industrial wastes by solution- route processed CZTS nanocrystals. J. Materiomics. 7, 904–919 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmat.2021.04.00510.1016/j.jmat.2021.04.005 ↗
63. J.J. Chaudhari, U.S. Joshi, Effects of complexing agent on earth-abundant environmentally friendly Cu2ZnSnS4 thin film solar cells prepared by sol–gel deposition. Applied Physics A 124, 465 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-018-1876-y10.1007/s00339-018-1876-y ↗
64. E.M. Mkawi, Y. Al-Hadeethi, O. Al-Hartomy, E. Bekyarova, Size-controlling of Cu2ZnSnS4 nanoparticles: effects of stabilizing/reducing agents on material properties. Results Phys. 19, 103407 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rinp.2020.10340710.1016/j.rinp.2020.103407 ↗
65. A. Weber, R. Mainz, H.W. Schock, On the Sn loss from thin films of the material system Cu-Zn-Sn-S in high vacuum. J. Appl. Phys. 107, 013516 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1063/1.327349610.1063/1.3273496 ↗
66. E.A. Pogue, M. Goetter, A. Rockett, Reaction kinetics of Cu2−xS, ZnS, and SnS2 to form Cu2ZnSnS4 and Cu2SnS3 studied using differential scanning calorimetry. MRS Adv. 2, 3021–3026 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1557/adv.2017.35410.1557/adv.2017.354 ↗