Published online by Cambridge University Press: 13 June 2012
In the present work we report the synthesis of Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) films by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) and the effect of sulfur annealing on structure, composition, morphological and optical characterization of CZTS thin films. Raman spectra of the films exhibited the characteristics peaks of Kesterite structure. However, annealing caused to transfer the films from amorphous state into crystalline state. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images revealed that as-deposited film exhibited a crack free, smooth, densely packed and homogeneous surface which was changed to rigid granular appearance after annealing. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) determined the compositions of the CZTS thin films which was near stoichiometry for the annealed samples. Ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) spectra showed the band gap of as-deposited film was 1.60 eV which was decreased to 1.40 eV after annealing.