Strong quantum confinement effects in kesterite Cu2ZnSnS4 nanospheres for organic optoelectronic cells

X-ray photoelectron spectra, X-ray diffraction patterns, scanning electron microscopy images, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy images showed that the as-prepared samples were Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) nanospheres with a kesterite phase. Ultraviolet-visible absorption spectra for the CZTS nanospheres with an average crystallite size of 3.26 nm showed that the absorption edge corresponding to the energy gap shifted to the higher energy side due to the quantum confinement within the CZTS nanoparticles. Current-density measurements showed that the power conversion efficiency (0.952%) of the organic photovoltaic cells with CZTS nanospheres was much higher than that (0.120%) of the cells without CZTS nanospheres.