Hierarchical flower-like Cu3BiS3 thin film synthesis with non-vacuum chemical bath deposition technique

Now-a-days, the progress of thin film semiconductor devices such as CdTe, Cu(In,Ga)Se 2 has remarkable development in the field of thin film photovoltaics. The toxicity of cadmium and limited availability of indium impose the search for alternative materials. At this juncture, Cu 3 BiS 3 is one of the promising emerging materials with favorable properties like high absorption coefficient and direct bandgap. Furthermore, the entire ingredients essential for Cu 3 BiS 3 synthesis are cost effective, non-toxic and plenteously accessible in the Earth’s crust. In the present work, hierarchical flower-like Cu 3 BiS 3 thin films were effectively synthesized on a glass substrate by non-vacuum chemical bath deposition method. The XRD approves the amorphous nature of hierarchical flower-like Cu 3 BiS 3 thin films. Raman spectrum ensured the pure phase of Cu 3 BiS 3 by major vibrational peaks at 285 and 468 cm −1 . Moreover, SEM shows the formation of hierarchical flower-like nanostructure of Cu 3 BiS 3 thin films. Wettability study of Cu 3 BiS 3 thin films exhibited hydrophobic behavior. The absorption coefficient and the optical bandgap of Cu 3 BiS 3 thin films were found to be 10 5 cm −1 and 1.73 eV respectively. These hierarchical flower-like Cu 3 BiS 3 thin films may be useful as absorbing layer in the photovoltaic solar cell.