CZTS synthesis in aqueous media by microwave irradiation

Copper zinc tin sulfide (Cu₂ZnSnS₄, CZTS), a p-type semiconductor composed of non-toxic earth abundant elements, is a promising material for absorber layer application in thin film solar photovoltaics. The present work describes a relatively faster and reliable microwave irradiation technique to prepare CZTS powder in aqueous media. The CZTS phase of the as-synthesized powder was confirmed by X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. Optical properties i.e. band gap determined from Tauc plot of the optical absorption spectrum measured by UV–Vis spectroscopy was 1.27 eV, which is suitable for absorbing the solar radiation. The particle morphology studied under SEM and TEM analysis was found to be a 3D flower-like nanostructure formed from 2D layers of CZTS crystals. Further, the most probable mechanism for the formation of CZTS phase is explained.