Effect of pH on the Characteristics of Cu 2 ZnSnS 4 Nanoparticles

Abstract

We have investigated the effect of pH on the structural and optical properties of chemical coprecipitated Cu 2 ZnSnS 4 (CZTS) nanoparticles. The CZTS nanoparticles have been successfully synthesized at different pH values ranging from 6 to 9, keeping all other deposition parameters as constant. X-ray diffraction and Raman studies confirmed the Kesterite structure. The powders synthesized at a pH value of 8 exhibited preferred orientation along (112) and (220) with near stoichiometric ratio. The as synthesized nanoparticles exhibited direct band gap of 1.4 eV which is an optimum value for the absorber layer in the fabrication of photovoltaic cells.