Peculiarities in electrical and optical properties of Cu2Zn1-x Mn x SnS4 films obtained by spray pyrolysis

Thin films of Cu2Zn1-x Mn (x) SnS4 (0 a parts per thousand currency sign x a parts per thousand currency sign 1) solid solutions have been obtained for the first time by the spray pyrolysis of aqueous salt solutions (copper, zinc, manganese, and tin chlorides and thiourea) at a temperature of T (S) = 563 K. The films possess specific electric conductivities within sigma a parts per thousand 35-422 Omega(-1) cm(-1) and optical bandgap width E (g) (op) that increases with the manganese content from 1.54 eV (x = 0) to 2.25 eV (x = 1). Electrical and optical properties of the obtained films have been studied and analyzed based on a model of polycrystalline materials with grain boundaries. The energy barriers Eb between grains have been determined. The dependence of the bandgap of Cu2Zn1-x Mn (x) SnS4 (0 a parts per thousand currency sign x a parts per thousand currency sign 1) solid solutions on the composition has been established using the results of measurements of the optical transmission and absorption coefficients.