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Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) is a very promising material for the absorber layer in sustainable thin-film solar cells. Its photovoltaic performance is currently limited by crystal structure disorder, which causes fluctuations in electrostatic potential that decrease open-circuit voltage. The origin of this disorder is still not fully understood. This work investigates five samples of CZTS over a range of compositions, fabricated by solid-state reaction. Their crystal structures are conclusively identified using high-resolution anomalous X-ray diffraction. Three of the samples display two distinct CZTS phases, evident in minute splitting of some diffraction peaks (by ~0.02°) due to different c/a lattice parameter ratios. These are attributed to different composition types of CZTS, defined by different charge-neutral defect complexes. In addition to such types previously reported, two new types are proposed: G-type, in which [2CuSn3- + CuZn- + Cui+ + 3VS2+] defects are prevalent, and H-type, in which [3Si2- + VCu- + ZnCu+ + 2SnCu3+] defects are prevalent. In both cases, the defects probably do not form a single complex due to their large number. Above the order-disorder phase transition the two CZTS phases generally converge to a single phase. A mechanism of phase formation in CZTS is thus proposed. This is the first time CZTS crystal structures have been investigated with sufficiently high resolution to distinguish these different CZTS phases, thereby establishing polymorphic behavior in CZTS.

Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) is a technologically important and complex quaternary semiconductor and a highly promising material for the absorber layer in sustainable thin film solar cells. Its photovoltaic performance is currently limited by low open-circuit voltage, thought to be due to a range of point defects such as disorder between the copper and zinc lattice sites. This is the highest-resolution neutron diffraction study reported for CZTS, which unambiguously identifies the crystal symmetry and accurately quantifies precise values for the disorder on all cation symmetry sites as a function of temperature. Two samples of CZTS were fabricated by solid state reaction and their compositions were measured by inductively-coupled plasma mass spectroscopy, which identified significant tin loss during growth, leaving the samples Sn-poor, Cu-rich and Sn-poor, Zn-rich respectively. Both samples were found exclusively to adopt the tetragonal kesterite crystal structure with significant cation disorder, which is investigated in detail over the range 4–1275 K. Importantly, and in contrast to previous reports, the 2a Wyckoff site shows disorder equal to or greater than the 2c site. The order–disorder phase transition was observed at different temperatures for the two compositions, 489 and 501 K respectively, lower than previously reported. The kesterite–sphalerite transition was observed between 1250 and 1275 K for the Sn-poor, Cu-rich sample, significantly higher than previously reported. These results provide new insights into the high levels of disorder present in CZTS and confirm that composition and cation disorder have a significant effect on the phase transition mechanism. This work will enable the development of routes to the fabrication of higher-efficiency photovoltaic devices.

Cu 2 ZnSnS 4 (CZTS) is a promising material for the absorber layer in sustainable thin film photovoltaic cells, but its best efficiencies are currently limited by low open-circuit voltages, thought to be due to defects such as disorder between the copper and zinc lattice sites. Samples of CZTS with stoichiometric and Cu-poor, Zn-rich (optimally doped for device application) starting compositions were fabricated by solid state reaction and their crystal structures were investigated using high-resolution neutron diffraction and anomalous scattering synchrotron X-ray diffraction. Both samples were found to be exclusively kesterite with significant mixing of Cu and Zn on the 2a, 2c, and 2d Wyckoff sites but negligible defect presence on the Sn 2b or S 8g sites. Importantly, the occupancies of the 2a and 2c sites were found to be identical, meaning the kesterite symmetry is preserved.