I am trying to make CZTS thin film using solgel method. Salts that I am using are Copper acetate monohydrate , zinc acetate dihydrate and tin chloride dihydrate with thiourea as a sulphur source.
As I increase the number coating beyond 5 layers, cracks start to develop in the precursor film.
Thank you
Jitendra Kumar
Dear Jitendra, what kind of substrates do you use? The adhesion of the CZTS films to several typically used materials is only weak, and stress in the films may lead to crack formation. Good luck, Dirk
Hi Atur, I do the same. I bake the spin coated substrate on a hot plate at 300-degree celsius.
Maybe this is exactly the problem. The CZTS, the Mo and the soda-lime glass all have different thermal expansion coefficients, and thus, the formation of cracks due to such a heating is actually the critical point. Try to heat up and cool down more slowly, this eventually may prevent cracks. Or do the spin coating on an already heated substrate ...
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