Cu-Sb-S: one-step electrochemical deposition of thin films for photovoltaic applications

Due to the availability and low cost of the elements, the semiconductor system Cu-Sb-S has been studied as a possible absorber material as an alternative to CI(G)S. The technique used for film preparation involved one-step electrodeposition from non aqueous solutions containing the metal precursors and elemental S. The properties of as-deposited and annealed films of the new material have been studied by a range of structural, electrical and photoelectrochemical techniques in order to establish their suitability as absorber layer materials for solar energy conversion