Synthesis of Cu₂ZnSnS₄ thin films directly onto conductive substrates via selective thermolysis using microwave energy

Copper zinc tin sulfide (CZTS) thin films were deposited from homogeneous solutions of precursors and directly onto conductive films via selective thermolysis by microwave heating. Microwave energy is absorbed strongly by conductive films, which enables preferential heating to a sufficiently high temperature for the deposition of CZTS exclusively on the conductive layer without homogeneous nucleation of CZTS in the liquid phase or heterogeneous nucleation of CZTS on uncoated portions of substrates.