Solutions-Processed Cu₂ZnSnS₄ solar cell utilizing Zn powder as local material

Abstract

Indonesia, as any other countries, requires high electrical energy consumption. The primary electrical supply in Indonesia is dominated by the limited and high pollution fossil fuel. Solar energy is needed as alternative renewable energy to overcome the limited fossil fuels. The Cu₂ZnSnS₄ (CZTS) as an absorber is a good material due to its non-toxic property, environmentally friendly, low cost and elemental abundance. CZTS solar cells have a high theoretical efficiency of up to 30.9%. The abundance of mineral resources in Indonesia (especially 99% Zinc powder) is utilized for the first time to replace the standard material from Zinc Acetate Dihydrate. Cu-poor Zn-rich CZTS/CdS/ITO is made using Zinc local material compared to the Zinc Acetate Dihydrate. The fabrication technique is carried out using a solution-processed method and spin-coating deposition. The Zn to Sn ratio is investigated towards the crystallinity, morphology, optical properties and cell performance. The result shows that Zinc local material in the CZTS absorber increases the percentage of kesterite phase by 0.3 % compared to Zinc acetate (standard material) and increases the crystallite size by 38.26 nm. The best cell has an efficiency of 5.10 ×10-4 % for Z125 sample (Zn/Sn ratio of 1.25) due to better crystallinity, morphology, optical properties.