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ABSTRACT
In the present work, Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) nanoparticles were prepared with different S-sources using a hot injection colloidal route. The morphological and structural properties have been analyzed. The dendrimers like nanocrystals were observed using thiourea while, spherical and triangular-shaped nano-particles were observed using elemental-S, and 1-Dodecanthiol (1-DDT) respectively. The charge transfer studies have been carried out and analyzed using Stern-Volmer curves for all three CZTS NPs with P3HT solution. CZTS NPs with thiourea as S-source were found to have the best charge-transfer capabilities. These nanoparticles were then mixed with a polymer and aromatic fullerene and were used as the active layer material for the hybrid photovoltaic solar cell. The increment of 34% power conversion efficiency (PCE) was observed with a small amount (6%) of CZTS nanoparticles. Surface morphology observed using atomic force microscopy of an active layer shows an increase in PCE with the decrease in the roughness of the film.
Graphical Abstract
Highlights
Varied shaped CZTS nanoparticles using various S-source synthesized via hot-injection technique.
Nanocomposites were used as an active layer material in IVth generation solar cell.
Addition of a small amount of CZTS resulted in an enhanced light-harvesting ability.
Acknowledgments
The authors are grateful to the Director, NPL for providing the facilities for completing this research work. Shefali Jain also wants to acknowledge Department of Science and Technology (DST), India for their financial assistant (PM-1019/2014) for carrying out this work.
Disclosure statement
There is no conflict of interest.