Issue 41, 2014

Cu2ZnSnS4 thin films: spin coating synthesis and photoelectrochemistry

Abstract

Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) has attracted great interest in both photovoltaic and photoelectrochemical applications as a low cost and environmentally-friendly solar absorber material. The development of a facile and green chemical route for the preparation of a well crystallized and stable CZTS photoelectrode still remains a challenge. We present here the preparation of well crystallized CZTS thin films using a facile spin-coating method based on methanol solution and their applications as photoelectrocathodes for hydrogen production. The bare CZTS thin films demonstrate outstanding photoelectrochemical (PEC) efficiency and chemical stability, which are further improved by surface modification of CdS and TiO2 layers using chemical bath and atomic layer deposition, respectively. The incident-photon-to-current efficiency (IPCE) and long term photoelectrochemistry of the CZTS thin films are measured. The characterization of XRD, Raman, SEM, and UV-vis absorption is also performed.

Graphical abstract: Cu2ZnSnS4 thin films: spin coating synthesis and photoelectrochemistry

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
08 Feb 2014
Accepted
29 Apr 2014
First published
30 Apr 2014

RSC Adv., 2014,4, 21318-21324

Author version available

Cu2ZnSnS4 thin films: spin coating synthesis and photoelectrochemistry

J. Wang, P. Zhang, X. Song and L. Gao, RSC Adv., 2014, 4, 21318 DOI: 10.1039/C4RA01139B

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