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  Weber, A.; Schmidt, S.; Abou-Ras, D.; Schubert-Bischoff, P.; Denks, I.; Mainz, R.; Schock, H.W.: Texture inheritance in thin-film growth of Cu₂ZnSnS₄. Applied Physics Letters 95 (2009), p. 041904/1-3

10.1063/1.3192357
Open Access Version

Abstract:
The growth mechanism of Cu2ZnSnS4 thin films is studied starting from highly textured ZnS precursor films. These precursors were converted to Cu2ZnSnS4 by subsequent deposition of Cu, Sn and S at high temperatures. Orientation measurements revealed that the <111>-texture of the ZnS precursor is inherited by the Cu2ZnSnS4 layer. On the basis of texture and transmission electron microscopy measurements a growth model is proposed. According to this model the initial formation of Cu2ZnSnS4-nuclei is controlled by a topotactic or epitactic mechanism with respect to the ZnS-precursor. The further growth of the Cu2ZnSnS4-grains appears to be independent of the precursor lattice.