Synthesis of Cu₂ZnSn(S,Se)₄ Nanoparticles for Application in Low-Cost Solar Cells

A low-temperature colloid synthesis approach was applied to synthesize Cu 2 ZnSn(S,Se) 4 (CZTSSe) nanoparticles for the first time. This method produced gram quantities of material with a chemical yield in excess of 90% within a short synthesis time. Average sizes of 80 nm nanoparticles with narrow diameter distribution were achieved using Na 2 S with Na 2 Se as a chalcogenide source. The formation reaction of kesterite CZTSSe fabricated from synthesized nanoparticles was investigated, and the results showed that the sufficiently high partial pressures of Sn with Se during the annealing process were important for the fabrication of high-quality CZTSSe films.