Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Structural and optical properties of Zn doped CuInS2 thin films

  • Published:
Bulletin of Materials Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Copper indium sulphide (CIS) films were deposited by spray pyrolysis onto glass substrates from aqueous solutions of copper (II) sulphate, indium chloride and thiourea using compressed air as the carrier gas. The copper/indium molar ratio (Cu/In) in the solution 1(1:1) and the sulphur/copper ratio (S/Cu) was fixed at 4. Structural properties of these films were characterized. The effects of Zn (0–5%) molecular weight compared with CuInS2 Source and different substrate temperatures on films properties were investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and optical transmission spectra. Optical characteristics of the CuInS2 films have been analysed using spectrophotometer in the wavelength range 300–1100 nm. The absorption spectra of the films showed that this compound is a direct bandgap material and gap values varied between 1·55 and 1·57 eV, depending on the substrate temperatures. Zn-doped samples have a bandgap energy of 1·55–1·95 eV. It was observed that there is an increase in optical bandgap with increasing Zn % molecular weight. The optical constants of the deposited films were obtained from the analysis of the experimentally recorded transmission and absorption spectral data. The refractive index, n and dielectric constants, ε 1 and ε 2, were also discussed and calculated as a function of investigated wavelength range and found it dependent on Zn incorporation. We found that the Zn-doped CuInS2 thin films exhibit P-type conductivity and we predict that Zn species can be considered as suitable candidates for use as doped acceptors to fabricate CuInS2-based solar cells. The paper presents a study concerning the influence of deposition parameters (temperature of the substrate and concentration of Zn (1–5)% from 0·16 M ZnCl2) on the quality of CuInS2 thin films achieved by spray pyrolysis on glass substrate from solutions containing 0·02 M CuCl2·2H2O, 0·16 M thiourea and 0·08 M In2Cl3·5H2O.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
Figure 5
Figure 6
Figure 7
Figure 8
Figure 9
Figure 10
Figure 11
Figure 12
Figure 13
Figure 14

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abaab M, Kanzari M, Rezig B and Brunel M 1999 Solar Energ. Mater. Solar C. 59 299

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Akaki Y, Matsuo H and Yoshino K 2006 Phys. Status Solidi (c) 8 2597

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aksay S and Altıokka B 2007 Phys. Status Solidi (c) 4 585

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Aksenov I and Sato K 1992 J. Appl. Phys. 31 2352

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ben Rabeh M, Kanzari M and Rezig B 2007 Thin Solid Films 515 5943

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ben Rabeh M, Kanzari M and Rezig B 2009 Acta Physica Polonica A115 699

    Google Scholar 

  • Brandt G, Ranber A and Schneider J 1983 Solid State Commun. 12 481

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Enzenhofer T, Unold T, Scheer R and Schock H W 2006 Phys. Status Solidi A203 2624

    Google Scholar 

  • Ezugwu S C, Ezema F I, Osuji R U, Asogwa P U, Ekwealor A B C and Ezekoye B A 2009 Optoelectron. Adv. Mater.-Rapid Commun. 3 141

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ezugwu S C, Ezema F I and Asogwa P U 2010 Chalcogenide Lett. 7 369

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fagan E A and Fritzsche H 1970 J. Non-Cryst. Solids 2 80

    Google Scholar 

  • Hashimoto T, Merdes S, Takayama N, Nakayama H, Nakanishi H, Chichibou S F and Ando S 2005 20th European photovoltaic solar energy conference, Proceedings of the international conference, Barcelona (eds) W Palz et al, p. 1926

  • Heavens O S 1950 Optical properties of thin solid films (London: Butterworths)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kanzari M, Abaab M, Rezig B and Brunel M 1997 Mater. Res. Bull. 32 1009

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Milovzorov D E, Ali A M, Inokuma T, Kurata Y, Suzuki T and Hasegawa S 2001 Thin Solid Films 382 47

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mott N F and Davis E A 1970 Philos. Mag. 22 903

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mott N F and Davis E A 1971 Electronic processes in non-crystalline materials (Oxford: Clarendon Press)

    Google Scholar 

  • Nascu Horea Iustin and Popescu Violeta 2004 Leonardo Electronic J. Practices Technol. 22

  • NcNatt J S, Dickman J E, Hepp A F, Kelly, Jin M H C and Banger K K 2005 Conference record of the 31st IEEE photovoltaic specialists conference, Lake Buena vista, Florida, p. 375

  • Nishikawa N N, Aksenov I, Sinzato T, Sakamoto T and Sato K 1995 Jpn. J. Appl. Phys. 34 L975

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Onnagawa H and Miyashita K M 1985 J. Appl. Phys. 23 965

    Google Scholar 

  • Patil P S 1999 Mater. Chem. Phys. 59 185

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sahal M, Marí B and Mollar M 2009 Thin Solid Films 517 2202

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Scheer R, Diesner K and Lewerenz H J 1995 Thin Solid Films 168 130

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schorr S, Tovar M, Hoebler H J and Schock H W 2009 Thin Solid Films 517 2508

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sedeek K and Fadel M 1993 Thin Solid Films 229 223

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shay J L and Wernick J H 1975 Ternary chalcopyrite semiconductors, growth, electronic properties and applications (Oxford, New York: Pergamon Press)

    Google Scholar 

  • Siemer K, Klaer J, Luck I, Bruns J, Klenk R and Braunig D 2001 Sol. Energ. Mater. Sol. C. 67 159

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tauc J, Grigorovici R and Vancu A 1966 Phys. Status Solidi 15 627

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tell B, Shay J I and Kasper H M 1971 Phys. Rev. B4 2463

    Google Scholar 

  • Ueng H Y and Hwang H L 1990 J. Phys. Chem. Solids 51 11

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yamamoto T and Yoshida H K 1996 Jpn. J. Appl. Phys. 35 L1562

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yamamoto T, Luck V and Scheer R 2000 Appl. Surf. Sci. 159–160 350

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zribi M, Kanzari M and Rezig B 2005a 20th European photovoltaic solar energy conference, Proceedings of the international conference, Barcelona (eds.) W Palz et al, p. 1890

  • Zribi M, Kanzari M and Rezig B 2005b Jpn. J. Appl. Phys. 29 203

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, College of Science, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq

    MAHDI H SUHAIL

Authors
  1. MAHDI H SUHAIL
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to MAHDI H SUHAIL.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

SUHAIL, M.H. Structural and optical properties of Zn doped CuInS2 thin films. Bull Mater Sci 35, 947–956 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12034-012-0395-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12034-012-0395-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation