In order to achieve the goal of a cost effective and environmentally friendly long term sustainable PV technology, novel and earth abundant materials should be used as good candidates for achieving energy conversion on the TW scale. Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) is one of the  most situable compound for achieving energy convertors. Moreover, the partial substitution of sulfur for selenium leads to improved parameters solar energy converters. The effective and low-cost method for obtaining the optimal composition of the Cu2ZnSn(S1-x Sex)4 (CZTSSe) layers is selenization previously prepared  layers CZTS.

This project aimed to study a Cu2ZnSn(S1-x Sex)4  (CZTSSe) absorber material for thin film solar cells that only contains abundant and non-toxic elements as a contribution to a sustainable energy economy. For low cost fabrication perspectives a spray pyrolysis was used for preparation of CZTS films.

The following investigations were performed:

1. Development of the growth technology of CZTSSe films, prepared by post-selenization of sprayed CZTS films.

2. Development of the growth technology of CZTSSe single crystals from Sn solutions and by chemical  vapour transport.

3. Characterization of structural, optical, luminescent, and transport properties of CZTSSe thin films and  single crystals. Comparative study of CZTS films and single crystals.

4. Characterization of the surface electronics of CZTSSe thin films and single crystals. (In cooperation with     Prof. Dr. M. Ch. Lux-Steiner and Prof. Dr. M. Rusu, Helmholtz- Zentrum Berlin).

5.Transient-grating experiment on CZTSSe, determination of  diffusion coefficients and carrier lifetimes  (In cooperation with Prof.Chris Weber, Santa Clara University, CA. 

6. Design of device structures on the base of  CZTSSe thin layers for photovoltaics.