• Title/Summary/Keyword: RF C-V

Search Result 575, Processing Time 0.031 seconds

Enhanced Si based negative electrodes using RF/DC magnetron sputtering for bulk lithium ion batteries

  • Hwang, Chang-Muk;Park, Jong-Wan
    • Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
    • /
    • 2010.02a
    • /
    • pp.277-277
    • /
    • 2010
  • The capacity of the carbonaceous materials reached ca. $350\;mAhg^{-1}$ which is close to theorestical value of the carbon intercalation composition $LiC_6$, resulting in a relatively low volumetric Li capacity. Notwithstanding the capacities of carbon, it will not adjust well to the need so future devices. Silicon shows the highest gravimetric capacities (up to $4000\;mAhg^{-1}$ for $Li_{21}Si_5$). Although Si is the most promising of the next generation anodes, it undergoes a large volume change during lithium insertion and extraction. It results in pulverization of the Si and loss of electrical contact between the Si and the current collector during the lithiation and delithiation. Thus, its capacity fades rapidly during cycling. We focused on electrode materials in the multiphase form which were composed of two metal compounds to reduce the volume change in material design. A combination of electrochemically amorphous active material in an inert matrix (Si-M) has been investigated for use as negative electrode materials in lithium ion batteries. The matrix composited of Si-M alloys system that; active material (Si)-inactive material (M) with Li; M is a transition metal that does not alloy with Li with Li such as Ti, V or Mo. We fabricated and tested a broad range of Si-M compositions. The electrodes were sputter-deposited on rough Cu foil. Electrochemical, structural, and compositional characterization was performed using various techniques. The structure of Si-M alloys was investigated using X-ray Diffractometer (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Surface morphologies of the electrodes are observed using a field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). The electrochemical properties of the electrodes are studied using the cycling test and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). It is found that the capacity is strongly dependent on Si content and cycle retention is also changed according to M contents. It may be beneficial to find materials with high capacity, low irreversible capacity and that do not pulverize, and that combine Si-M to improve capacity retention.

  • PDF

Schottky Contact Application을 위한 Yb Germanides 형성 및 특성에 관한 연구

  • Na, Se-Gwon;Gang, Jun-Gu;Choe, Ju-Yun;Lee, Seok-Hui;Kim, Hyeong-Seop;Lee, Hu-Jeong
    • Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
    • /
    • 2013.02a
    • /
    • pp.399-399
    • /
    • 2013
  • Metal silicides는 Si 기반의microelectronic devices의 interconnect와 contact 물질 등에 사용하기 위하여 그 형성 mechanism과 전기적 특성에 대한 연구가 많이 이루어지고 있다. 이 중 Rare-earth(RE) silicides는 저온에서 silicides를 형성하고, n-type Si과 낮은 Schottky Barrier contact (~0.3 eV)을 이룬다. 또한 낮은 resistivity와 Si과의 작은 lattice mismatch, 그리고 epitaxial growth의 가능성, 높은 thermal stability 등의 장점을 갖고 있다. RE silicides 중 ytterbium silicide는 가장 낮은 electric work function을 갖고 있어 n-channel schottky barrier MOSFETs의 source/drain으로 주목받고 있다. 또한 Silicon 기반의 CMOSFETs의 성능 향상 한계로 인하여 germanium 기반의 소자에 대한 연구가 이루어져 왔다. Ge 기반 FETs 제작을 위해서는 낮은 source/drain series/contact resistances의 contact을 형성해야 한다. 본 연구에서는 저접촉 저항 contact material로서 ytterbium germanide의 가능성에 대해 고찰하고자 하였다. HRTEM과 EDS를 이용하여 ytterbium germanide의 미세구조 분석과 면저항 및 Schottky Barrier Heights 등의 전기적 특성 분석을 진행하였다. Low doped n-type Ge (100) wafer를 1%의 hydrofluoric (HF) acid solution에 세정하여 native oxide layer를 제거하고, 고진공에서 RF sputtering 법을 이용하여 ytterbium 30 nm를 먼저 증착하고, 그 위에 ytterbium의 oxidation을 방지하기 위한 capping layer로 100 nm 두께의 TiN을 증착하였다. 증착 후, rapid thermal anneal (RTA)을 이용하여 N2 분위기에서 $300{\sim}700^{\circ}C$에서 각각 1분간 열처리하여 ytterbium germanides를 형성하였다. Ytterbium germanide의 미세구조 분석은 transmission electron microscopy (JEM-2100F)을 이용하였다. 면 저항 측정을 위해 sulfuric acid와 hydrogen peroxide solution (H2SO4:H2O2=6:1)에서 strip을 진행하여 TiN과 unreacted Yb을 제거하였고, 4-point probe를 통하여 측정하였다. Yb germanides의 면저항은 열처리 온도 증가에 따라 감소하다 증가하는 경향을 보이고, $400{\sim}500^{\circ}C$에서 가장 작은 면저항을 나타내었다. HRTEM 분석 결과, deposition 과정에서 Yb과 Si의 intermixing이 일어나 amorphous layer가 존재하였고, 열처리 온도가 증가하면서 diffusion이 더 활발히 일어나 amorphous layer의 두께가 증가하였다. $350^{\circ}C$ 열처리 샘플에서 germanide/Ge interface에서 epitaxial 구조의 crystalline Yb germanide가 형성되었고, EDS 측정 및 diffraction pattern을 통하여 안정상인 YbGe2-X phase임을 확인하였다. 이러한 epitaxial growth는 면저항의 감소를 가져왔으며, 열처리 온도가 증가하면서 epitaxial layer가 증가하다가 고온에서 polycrystalline 구조의 Yb germanide가 형성되어 면저항의 증가를 가져왔다. Schottky Barrier Heights 측정 결과 또한 면저항 경향과 동일하게 열처리 증가에 따라 감소하다가 고온에서 다시 증가하였다.

  • PDF

Annealed effect on the Optical and Electrical characteristic of a-IGZO thin films transistor.

  • Kim, Jong-U;Choe, Won-Guk;Ju, Byeong-Gwon;Lee, Jeon-Guk
    • Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
    • /
    • 2010.05a
    • /
    • pp.53.2-53.2
    • /
    • 2010
  • 지금까지 능동 구동 디스플레이의 TFT backplane에 사용하고 있는 채널 물질로는 수소화된 비정질 실리콘(a-Si:H)과 저온 폴리실리콘(low temperature poly-Si)이 대표적이다. 수소화된 비정질 실리콘은 TFT-LCD 제조에 주로 사용되는 물질로 제조 공정이 비교적 간단하고 안정적이며, 생산 비용이 낮고, 소자 간 특성이 균일하여 대면적 디스플레이 제조에 유리하다. 그러나 a-Si:H TFT의 이동도(mobility)가 1 cm2/Vs이하로 낮아 Full HD 이상의 대화면, 고해상도, 고속 동작을 요구하는 UD(ultra definition)급 디스플레이를 개발하는데 있어 한계 상황에 다다르고 있다. 또한 광 누설 전류(photo leakage current)의 발생을 억제하기 위해서 화소의 개구율(aperture ratio)을 감소시켜야하므로 패널의 투과율이 저하되고, 게이트 전극에 지속적으로 바이어스를 인가 시 TFT의 문턱전압(threshold voltage)이 열화되는 문제점을 가지고 있다. 문제점을 극복하기 위한 대안으로 근래 투명 산화물 반도체(transparent oxide semiconductor)가 많은 관심을 얻고 있다. 투명 산화물 반도체는 3 eV 이상의 높은 밴드갭(band-gap)을 가지고 있어 광 흡수도가 낮아 투명하고, 광 누설 전류의 영향이 작아 화소 설계시 유리하다. 최근 다양한 조성의 산화물 반도체들이 TFT 채널 층으로의 적용을 목적으로 활발하게 연구되고 있으며 ZnO, SnO2, In2O3, IGO(indium-gallium oxide), a-ZTO(amorphous zinc-tin-oxide), a-IZO (amorphous indium-zinc oxide), a-IGZO(amorphous indium-galliumzinc oxide) 등이 그 예이다. 이들은 상온 또는 $200^{\circ}C$ 이하의 낮은 온도에서 PLD(pulsed laser deposition)나 스퍼터링(sputtering)과 같은 물리적 기상 증착법(physical vapor deposition)으로 손쉽게 증착이 가능하다. 특히 이중에서도 a-IGZO는 비정질임에도 불구하고 이동도가 $10\;cm2/V{\cdot}s$ 정도로 a-Si:H에 비해 월등히 높은 이동도를 나타낸다. 이와 같이 a-IGZO는 비정질이 가지는 균일한 특성과 양호한 이동도로 인하여 대화면, 고속, 고화질의 평판 디스플레이용 TFT 제작에 적합하고, 뿐만 아니라 공정 온도가 낮은 장점으로 인해 플렉시블 디스플레이(flexible display)의 backplane 소재로서도 연구되고 있다. 본 실험에서는 rf sputtering을 이용하여 증착한 a-IGZO 박막에 대하여 열처리 조건 변화에 따른 a-IGZO 박막들의 광학적, 전기적 특성변화를 살펴보았고, 이와 더불어 a-IGZO 박막을 TFT에 적용하여 소자의 특성을 분석함으로써, 열처리에 따른 Transfer Curve에서의 우리가 요구하는 Threshold Voltage(Vth)의 변화를 관찰하였다.

  • PDF

InGaN/GaN Blue LED device 제조시 ALD (Atomic Layer Deposition) 방법으로 증착된 Al2O3 Film의 Passivation 효과

  • Lee, Seong-Gil;Bang, Jin-Bae;Yang, Chung-Mo;Kim, Dong-Seok;Lee, Jeong-Hui
    • Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
    • /
    • 2010.08a
    • /
    • pp.211-212
    • /
    • 2010
  • GaN 기반의 상부발광형 LED는 동작되는 동안 생기는 전기적 단락, 그리고 칩 위의 p-형 전극과 n-형 전극 사이에 생기는 누설전류 및 신뢰성 확보를 위하여 칩 표면에 passivation 층을 형성하게 된다. SiO2, Si3N4와 같은 passivation layers는 일반적으로 PECVD (Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition)공정을 이용한다, 하지만 이는 공정 특성상 plasma로 인한 damage가 유발되기 때문에 표면 누설 전류가 증가 한다. 이로 인해 forward voltage와 reverse leakage current의 특성이 저하된다. 본 실험에서는 원자층 단위의 박막 증착으로 인해 PECVD보다 단차 피복성이 매우 우수한 PEALD(Plasma Enhanced Atomic Layer Deposition)공정을 이용하여 Al2O3 passivation layer를 증착한 후, 표면 누설전류와 빛의 출력 특성에 대해서 조사해 보았다. PSS (patterned sapphire substrate) 위에 성장된 LED 에피구조를 사용하였고, TCP(Trancformer Copled Plasma)장비를 사용하여 에칭 공정을 진행하였다. 이때 투명전극을 증착하기 위해 e-beam evaporator를 사용하여 Ni/Au를 각각 $50\;{\AA}$씩 증착한 후 오믹 특성을 향상시키기 위하여 $500^{\circ}C$에서 열처리를 해주었다. 그리고 Ti/Au($300/4000{\AA}$) 메탈을 사용하여 p-전극과 n-전극을 형성하였다. Passivation을 하지 않은 경우에는 reverse leakage current가 -5V 에서 $-1.9{\times}10-8$ A 로 측정되었고, SiO2와 Si3N4을 passivation으로 이용한 경우에는 각각 $8.7{\times}10-9$$-2.2{\times}10-9$로 측정되었다. Fig. 1 에서 보면 알 수 있듯이 5 nm의 Al2O3 film을 passivation layer로 이용할 경우 passivation을 하지 않은 경우를 제외한 다른 passivation 경우보다 reverse leakage current가 약 2 order ($-3.46{\times}10-11$ A) 정도 낮게 측정되었다. 그 이유는 CVD 공정보다 짧은 ALD의 공정시간과 더 낮은 RF Power로 인해 plasma damage를 덜 입게 되어 나타난 것으로 생각된다. Fig. 2 에서는 Al2O3로 passivation을 한 소자의 forward voltage가 SiO2와 Si3N4로 passivation을 한 소자보다 각각 0.07 V와 0.25 V씩 낮아지는 것을 확인할 수 있었다. 또한 Fig. 3 에서는 Al2O3로 passivation을 한 소자의 output power가 SiO2와 Si3N4로 passivation을 한 소자보다 각각 2.7%와 24.6%씩 증가한 것을 볼 수 있다. Output power가 증가된 원인으로는 향상된 forward voltage 및 reverse에서의 leakage 특성과 공기보다 높은 Al2O3의 굴절률이 광출력 효율을 증가시켰기 때문인 것으로 판단된다.

  • PDF

Flavor Improvement of a Complex Extract from Poor-quality, Individually Quick-frozen Oysters Crassostrea gigas (IQF 굴(Crassostrea gigas) 복합엑스분의 추출 및 풍미개선)

  • Hwang, Seok-Min;Hwang, Young-Suk;Nam, Hyeon-Gyu;Lee, Jae-Dong;Ryu, Seong-Gwi;Oh, Kwang-Soo
    • Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
    • /
    • v.47 no.6
    • /
    • pp.733-739
    • /
    • 2014
  • To develop an effective use for poor-quality individually quick-frozen (IQF) oysters Crassostrea gigas stored for a long period, the extract conditions, quality characteristics, and optimum reaction flavoring (RF) conditions of a complex extract from these IQF oysters were investigated. The moisture, pH, and volatile basic nitrogen contents of IQF oysters stored for 18 months (18M-IQFO) were 77.9%, 6.32, and 17.9 mg/100 g, respectively. Three different kinds of extract were prepared from 18M-IQFO: a hot-water extract (HE), scrap enzymatic hydrolysate (EH), and complex extract (CE). The respective extracts contained 5.5, 8.6, and 6.6% crude protein and 281.7, 366.0, and 343.0 mg/100 g amino nitrogen, and had 811, 359, and 1,170 mL/kg extraction yields. The CE was superior to the traditional HE in terms of the extraction yield, amino-nitrogen content, and organoleptic qualities, except for the odor. To improve flavor via the Maillard reaction, the reaction system used to produce a desirable flavor comprised CE (Brix $30^{\circ}$), 0.4 M glucose, 0.4 M glycine, and 0.4 M cysteine solution (4:2:1:1, v/v). The reaction time and pH were the independent variables, and the sensory scores for baked potato odor, masking shellfish odor, and boiled meat odor were the dependent variables. The surface response methodology (RSM) analysis of the multiple responses optimization gave a reaction time of 120.6 minutes and pH 7.33 at $120^{\circ}C$. The reaction improved the flavor of CE considerably, as compared to that of the unreacted extract.

Effect of Ti-Doped Al2O3 Coating Thickness and Annealed Condition on Microstructure and Electrochemical Properties of LiCoO2 Thin-Film Cathode (Ti 첨가 Al2O3 코팅층의 두께와 열처리 조건이 LiCoO2 양극 박막의 미세구조와 전기화학적 특성에 미치는 영향)

  • Choi, Ji-Ae;Lee, Seong-Rae;Cho, Won-Il;Cho, Byung-Won
    • Korean Journal of Materials Research
    • /
    • v.17 no.8
    • /
    • pp.447-451
    • /
    • 2007
  • We investigated the dependence of the various annealing conditions and thickness ($6\sim45nm$) of the Ti-doped $Al_2O_3$ coating on the electrochemical properties and the capacity fading of Ti-doped $Al_2O_3$ coated $LiCoO_2$ films. The Ti-doped-$Al_2O_3$-coating layer and the cathode films were deposited on $Al_2O_3$ plate substrates by RF-magnetron sputter. Microstructural and electrochemical properties of Ti-doped-$Al_2O_3$-coated $LiCoO_2$ films were investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and a dc four-point probe method, respectively. The cycling performance of Ti-doped $Al_2O_3$ coated $LiCoO_2$ film was improved at higher cut-off voltage. But it has different electrochemical properties with various annealing conditions. They were related on the microstructure, surface morphology and the interface condition. Suppression of Li-ion migration is dominant at the coating thickness >24.nm during charge/discharge processes. It is due to the electrochemically passive nature of the Ti-doped $Al_2O_3$ films. The sample be made up of Ti-doped $Al_2O_3$ coated on annealed $LiCoO_2$ film with additional annealing at $400^{\circ}C$ had good adhesion between coating layer and cathode films. This sample showed the best capacity retention of $\sim92%$ with a charge cut off of 4.5 V after 50 cycles. The Ti-doped $Al_2O_3$ film was an amorphous phase and it has a higher electrical conductivity than that of the $Al_2O_3$ film. Therefore, the Ti-doped $Al_2O_3$ coated improved the cycle performance and the capacity retention at high voltage (4.5 V) of $LiCoO_2$ films.

Nature of the Interfacial Regions in the Antiferromagnetically-coupled Fe/Si Multilayered Films

  • Moon, J.C.;Y.V. Kudryavtsev;J.Y.Rhee;Kim, K.W.;Lee, Y.P.
    • Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
    • /
    • 2000.02a
    • /
    • pp.174-174
    • /
    • 2000
  • A strong antiferromagnetic coupling in Fe/Si multilayered films (MLF) had been recently discovered and much consideration has been given to whether the coupling in the Fe/Si MLF system has the same origin as the metal/metal MLF. Nevertheless, the nature of the interfacial ron silicide is still controversial. On one hand, a metal/ semiconductor structure was suggested with a narrow band-gap semiconducting $\varepsilon$-FeSi spacer that mediates the coupling. However, some features show that the nature of coupling can be well understood in terms of the conventional metal/metal multilayered system. It is well known that both magneto-optical (MO) and optical properties of a metal depend strongly on their electronic structure that is also correlated with the atomic and chemical ordering. In this study, the nature of the interfacial regions is the Fe/Si multilayers has been investigated by the experimental and computer-simulated MO and optical spectroscopies. The Fe/Si MLF were prepared by rf-sputtering onto glass substrates at room temperature with the number of repetition N=50. The thickness of Fe sublayer was fixed at 3.0nm while the Si sublayer thickness was varied from 1.0 to 2.0 nm. The topmost layer of all the Fe/Si MLF is Fe. In order to carry out the computer simulations, the information on the MO and optical parameters of the materials that may constitute a real multilayered structure should be known in advance. For this purpose, we also prepared Fe, Si, FeSi2 and FeSi samples. The structural characterization of Fe/Si MLF was performed by low- and high -angle x-ray diffraction with a Cu-K$\alpha$ radiation and by transmission electron microscopy. A bulk $\varepsilon$-FeSi was also investigated. The MO and optical properties were measured at room temperature in the 1.0-4.7 eV energy range. The theoretical simulations of MO and optical properties for the Fe/Si MLF were performed by solving exactly a multireflection problem using the scattering matrix approach assuming various stoichiometries of a nonmagnetic spacer separating the antiferromagnetically coupled Fe layers. The simulated spectra of a model structure of FeSi2 or $\varepsilon$-FeSi as the spacer turned out to fail in explaining the experimental spectra of the Fe/Si MLF in both intensity and shape. Thus, the decisive disagreement between experimental and simulated MO and optical properties ruled out the hypothesis of FeSi2 and $\varepsilon$-FeSi as the nonmagnetic spacer. By supposing the spontaneous formation of a metallic ζ-FeSi, a reasonable agreement between experimental and simulated MO and optical spectra was obtained.

  • PDF

Temperature Dependence on Dry Etching of $ZrO_2$ Thin Films in $Cl_2/BCl_3$/Ar Inductively Coupled Plasma ($Cl_2/BCl_3$/Ar 유도 결합 플라즈마에서 온도에 따른 $ZrO_2$ 박막의 식각)

  • Yang, Xue;Kim, Dong-Pyo;Lee, Cheol-In;Um, Doo-Seung;Kim, Chang-Il
    • Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
    • /
    • 2008.11a
    • /
    • pp.145-145
    • /
    • 2008
  • High-k materials have been paid much more attention for their characteristics with high permittivity to reduce the leakage current through the scaled gate oxide. Among the high-k materials, $ZrO_2$ is one of the most attractive ones combing such favorable properties as a high dielectric constant (k= 20 ~ 25), wide band gap (5 ~ 7 eV) as well as a close thermal expansion coefficient with Si that results in good thermal stability of the $ZrO_2$/Si structure. During the etching process, plasma etching has been widely used to define fine-line patterns, selectively remove materials over topography, planarize surfaces, and trip photoresist. About the high-k materials etching, the relation between the etch characteristics of high-k dielectric materials and plasma properties is required to be studied more to match standard processing procedure with low damaged removal process. Among several etching techniques, we chose the inductively coupled plasma (ICP) for high-density plasma, easy control of ion energy and flux, low ownership and simple structure. And the $BCl_3$ was included in the gas due to the effective extraction of oxygen in the form of $BCl_xO_y$ compounds. During the etching process, the wafer surface temperature is an important parameter, until now, there is less study on temperature parameter. In this study, the etch mechanism of $ZrO_2$ thin film was investigated in function of $Cl_2$ addition to $BCl_3$/Ar gas mixture ratio, RF power and DC-bias power based on substrate temperature increased from $10^{\circ}C$ to $80^{\circ}C$. The variations of relative volume densities for the particles were measured with optical emission spectroscopy (OES). The surface imagination was measured by scanning emission spectroscope (SEM). The chemical state of film was investigated using energy dispersive X-ray (EDX).

  • PDF

Electrical Characteristics of Copper Circuit using Inkjet Printing (잉크젯 프린팅 방식으로 형성된 구리 배선의 전기적 특성 평가)

  • Kim, Kwang-Seok;Koo, Ja-Myeong;Joung, Jae-Woo;Kim, Byung-Sung;Jung, Seung-Boo
    • Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
    • /
    • v.17 no.3
    • /
    • pp.43-49
    • /
    • 2010
  • Direct printing technology is an attractive metallization method, which has become immerging as "Green technology" to the conventional photolithography, on account of low cost, simple process and environment-friendliness. In order to commercialize the printed electronics in industry, it is essential to evaluate the electrical properties of conductive circuits using direct printing technology. In this contribution, we focused on the electrical characteristics of inkjet-printed circuits. A Cu nanoink was inkjet-printed onto a Bisaleimide triazine(BT) substrate with parallel transmission line(PTL) and coplanar waveguide(CPW) type, then was sintered at $250^{\circ}C$ for 30 min. We calculated the resistivity of printed circuits through direct current resistance by the measurement of I-V curve: the resistivity was approximately 0.558 ${\mu}{\Omega}{\cdot}cm$ which is about 3.3 times that of bulk Cu. Cascade's probe system in the frequency range from 0 to 30 GHz were employed to measure the Scattering parameter(S-parameter) with or without a gap between the substrate and the probe station chuck. The result of measured S-parameter showed that all printed circuits had over 5 dB of return loss in the entire frequency range. In the curve of insertion loss, $S_{21}$, showed that the PTL type circuits had better transmission of radio frequency (RF) than CPW type.

Solution-Processed Nontoxic and Abundant $Cu_2ZnSnS_4$ for Thin-Film Solar Cells

  • Mun, Ju-Ho
    • Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
    • /
    • 2012.05a
    • /
    • pp.65-65
    • /
    • 2012
  • Copper zinc tin sulfide ($Cu_2ZnSnS_4$, CZTS) is a very promising material as a low cost absorber alternative to other chalcopyrite-type semiconductors based on Ga or In because of the abundant and economical elements. In addition, CZTS has a band-gap energy of 1.4~1.5eV and large absorption coefficient over ${\sim}10^4cm^{-1}$, which is similar to those of $Cu(In,Ga)Se_2$(CIGS) regarded as one of the most successful absorber materials for high efficient solar cell. Most previous works on the fabrication of CZTS thin films were based on the vacuum deposition such as thermal evaporation and RF magnetron sputtering. Although the vacuum deposition has been widely adopted, it is quite expensive and complicated. In this regard, the solution processes such as sol-gel method, nanocrystal dispersion and hybrid slurry method have been developed for easy and cost-effective fabrication of CZTS film. Among these methods, the hybrid slurry method is favorable to make high crystalline and dense absorber layer. However, this method has the demerit using the toxic and explosive hydrazine solvent, which has severe limitation for common use. With these considerations, it is highly desirable to develop a robust, easily scalable and relatively safe solution-based process for the fabrication of a high quality CZTS absorber layer. Here, we demonstrate the fabrication of a high quality CZTS absorber layer with a thickness of 1.5~2.0 ${\mu}m$ and micrometer-scaled grains using two different non-vacuum approaches. The first solution-processing approach includes air-stable non-toxic solvent-based inks in which the commercially available precursor nanoparticles are dispersed in ethanol. Our readily achievable air-stable precursor ink, without the involvement of complex particle synthesis, high toxic solvents, or organic additives, facilitates a convenient method to fabricate a high quality CZTS absorber layer with uniform surface composition and across the film depth when annealed at $530^{\circ}C$. The conversion efficiency and fill factor for the non-toxic ink based solar cells are 5.14% and 52.8%, respectively. The other method is based on the nanocrystal dispersions that are a key ingredient in the deposition of thermally annealed absorber layers. We report a facile synthetic method to produce phase-pure CZTS nanocrystals capped with less toxic and more easily removable ligands. The resulting CZTS nanoparticle dispersion enables us to fabricate uniform, crack-free absorber layer onto Mo-coated soda-lime glass at $500^{\circ}C$, which exhibits a robust and reproducible photovoltaic response. Our simple and less-toxic approach for the fabrication of CZTS layer, reported here, will be the first step in realizing the low-cost solution-processed CZTS solar cell with high efficiency.

  • PDF