Colloidal Cu2ZnSnS4-based and Ag-doped Nanocrystals: Synthesis and Raman Spectroscopy Study

Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) is one of the promising materials for absorber layers of new-generation thin film solar cells. Various synthetic routes of materials preparation and structural characterization have been explored so far. Further tuning of the CZTS properties is realized via partial substitution of the cations. Here we have used an affordable and scalable method of synthesizing colloidal CZTS nanocrystals (NC) in an aqueous solution. Variation of the synthesis parameters, in particular pH of the solution, was employed to improve the crystallinity of the NCs. Furthermore, CZTS NCs with partial substitution of Cu for Ag were also successfully synthesized. Raman spectroscopy was employed as a prime tool of structural characterization of the NCs obtained, along with optical absorption spectroscopy and ab initio DFT lattice dynamics calculations. An experimentally observed slight upward shift of the main phonon Raman peak upon increase of the Ag content in (AgxCu1-x)2ZnSnS4 NCs is in agreement with the trend predicted by DFT calculation. No pure Ag2ZnSnS4 NCs could be formed, indicating a critical role of Cu in forming the kesterite structure NCs under given synthesis conditions in an aqueous medium.