title: Facile water-based spray pyrolysis of earth-abundant Cu2FeSnS4 thin films as an efficient counter electrode in dye-sensitized solar cells.
abstract: A novel approach to produce earth-abundant Cu2FeSnS4 (CFTS) thin film using spray pyrolysis of nontoxic aqueous precursors followed by sulfurization is reported. The CFTS phase formation was confirmed by both Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction techniques. Hall measurements of these films reveal p-type conductivity with good charge carrier density and mobilities appropriate for solar harvesting devices. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the electrical properties of solution-processed Cu2FeSnS4 thin films estimated using Hall measurements. Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) fabricated with CFTS thin film as a photocathode in iodine/iodide electrolyte exhibit good power conversion efficiency, 8.03%, indicating that CFTS would be a promising cheaper alternative to replace Pt as a counter electrode in DSSCs.
authors.affiliation: Energy Research Institute, Nanyang Technological University , Singapore.
authors.forename: Rajiv Ramanujam
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Prabhakar
authors.forename: Nguyen
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Huu Loc
authors.forename: Mulmudi Hemant
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Pablo P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Boix
authors.forename: Sun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Juan
authors.forename: Rohit Abraham
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: John
authors.forename: Sudip K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Batabyal
authors.forename: Lydia Helena
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Wong
keywords: Cu2FeSnS4; counter electrodes; dye-sensitized solar cells; earth-abundant materials; photovoltaics; solution processed thin films