University of Twente Student Theses

Login

Investigating electrodeposition to grow CZTS thin films for solar cell applications

Reith, Pim and Hopman, Gerben (2012) Investigating electrodeposition to grow CZTS thin films for solar cell applications.

[img] PDF
8MB
Abstract:The search for alternative energy sources has solar energy as one of the primary solutions. Thin film solar cells are a technology that uses less materials, but still keeps or even beats efficiencies of normal silicon solar cells. However, some of the materials used in thin film solar cells are either rare or toxic. In this project, copper zinc tin sulfide (CZTS) thin films grown on indium tin oxide (ITO) substrates by electrodeposition are investigated as a possible absorber layer in thin film solar cells. The goal is to find out whether electrodeposition followed by a sulfurization step is a good method of growing these films. Using an electrolyte containing all four elements of CZTS, optimal growth was achieved at potentials between -1.0 and -1.1 V, growing between 40 and 50 minutes. As-deposited films contained no CZTS, but annealing produced islands of stoichiometric CZTS. However, uniform coverage of the substrate was not achieved. Using an electrolyte containing only copper, zinc and tin, and adding the sulfur through annealing, yielded better results, achieving uniform coverage over almost the entire deposition area. Measurements showed, though, that the annealed film contained too much tin (in the form of tin sulfides), which means the three metals were not deposited in the correct ratios. More research into this method could lead to good results for the electrodeposition of CZTS.
Item Type:Essay (Bachelor)
Faculty:TNW: Science and Technology
Subject:33 physics
Programme:Applied Physics BSc (56962)
Link to this item:https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/62113
Export this item as:BibTeX
EndNote
HTML Citation
Reference Manager

 

Repository Staff Only: item control page