Pulsed potential co-electrodeposition of Cu2CoSnS4 absorber layer on fluorinated tin oxide (FTO)-coated glass

• Published in: Journal of applied electrochemistry Vol. 54; no. 12; pp. 2745 - 2756
• Main Authors: Ait Layachi, Omar, Boudouma, Abderrazzak, Lasri, Mohammed, Hrir, Hala, Nini, Meryem, Azmi, Sara, Bousseta, Mohammed, Moujib, Asmaa, Khoumri, El mati
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 2024; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Diffraction patterns; Electrical properties; Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy; Electrochemistry; Electrodeposition; Energy gap; Fluorine; Industrial Chemistry/Chemical Engineering; Pattern analysis; Physical Chemistry; Pulse duration; Raman spectra; Raman spectroscopy; Research Article; Silver; Spectrum analysis; Substrates; Sulfurization; Thin films; Tin; Tin oxides; X-ray diffraction; Solar cells; Cu; Stannite; Pulsed electrodeposition; Time effect; CoSnS; Thin film
• ISSN: 0021-891X; 1572-8838
• DOI: 10.1007/s10800-024-02131-x

Thin films of Cu
2
CoSnS
4
(CCTS) are electrodeposited onto fluorine tin oxide substrate using pulsed electrodeposition mode for various time periods followed by sulfurization treatment at 500 °C. The pulse potential (V1) is held constant at 0 V vs. Ag/AgCl, while (V2) is set at − 1.1 V vs. Ag/AgCl. The effect of pulse duration on the CCTS proprietress is being investigated. Cyclic voltammetry was used to study the electrochemical behaviors of Cu–Co–Sn–S precursors, while in situ electrochemical impedance spectroscopy investigated the electrical properties of the system during electrodeposition of CCTS at − 1.10 V. The impedance spectra revealed a capacitive loop pattern along with Warburg diffusion. The samples were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, and UV–visible spectroscopy. Both XRD data and Raman spectra indicated that the CCTS thin films have a stannite structure. The films deposited for 20 min and 30 min exhibit a predominantly pure CCTS phase. Moreover, deposition for 20 min exhibits a homogeneous morphology with a nearly stoichiometric composition along with an optical band gap energy of 1.54 eV. Apart from the CCTS phase, noticeable secondary phases are present in films deposited at both low and high pulse durations, and they have been observed to slightly affect the gap energy.
Graphical abstract