Executive Summary : | Researchers are exploring non-toxic, earth-abundant, and environmentally friendly materials for thin film solar cell fabrication due to increasing energy demand. Light-absorbing materials like CuInGaSe₂, CuInS₂, and CdTe have been the dominant materials in this field for decades. However, their limited availability and toxicity may pose challenges in large-scale solar cell fabrication. This project proposes copper-based ternary chalcogenides materials Cu3BiS3 (CBS) as a suitable replacement for absorber layers in thin film solar cells due to their promising optoelectronics properties. The structure of the solar cell consists of FTO/Cu₃BiS₃/ZnS/Ag, with ternary semiconductor Cu₃BiS3 thin films prepared using an indigenously developed automated ultrasonic spray pyrolysis (USP) technique. CBS thin films are optimized by varying substrate temperature and precursor solution concentration. ZnS films are used as a window layer, grown using low-cost USP techniques. X-Ray diffraction, Raman analysis, scanning electron microscopy, UV-Vis spectrometer, Four probe method, profilometer, and X-ray spectroscopy will be used to determine the crystal structure, surface morphology, electrical properties, and oxidation state of the films. Optimized CBS and ZnS thin films will be used as absorbers and window layers for solar cell fabrication. The efficiency of the cells will be assessed using a solar cell simulator, and thickness optimization of each layer will be performed to improve efficiency. Understanding the fundamental physics, structural, optical, and electrical properties of the material is crucial for manufacturing heterojunction solar cells. |