The effect of the Gd/Sn composition ratio of Cu₂Sn_1-xGd_xS₃ is examined. The films are fabricated on glass substrates in a sulfur atmosphere via the spin coating. The influence of the Gd/Sn composition ratio on the structural, morphological, optical, and electrical properties of the films is investigated using X-ray diffraction, FESEM, UV-Vis, and Hall effect. XRD patterns for the films revealed that all films have a monoclinic polycrystalline. The morphological and optical properties of the films show the formation of spherical grains and polygonal structures with an energy band in the range of 2.10–1.50 eV. The electrical properties of the films are changed by increasing the Gd/Sn composition ratio in the film. Furthermore, the Cu₂Sn_1-xGd_xS₃/CdS heterojunction solar cell was modeled by SCAPS-1D. The optimized conditions yielded exceptional photovoltaic parameters, achieving an open-circuit voltage of 0.7885 V, short circuit current density of 41.09 mA/cm², fill factor of 85.30%, and an efficiency of 27.3%.

Copper zinc tin sulfide (CZTS) thin films were synthesized on soda lime glass using pulsed laser deposition (PLD) at room temperature. Introducing gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) in a sandwich structure led to increased CZTS particle size and a shift in the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) peak of the AuNPs, influenced by different laser energy levels. The absorption measurements revealed intriguing behavior across the visible and near-infrared (NIR) regions, making these films appealing for 1 Sun photodetectors. Furthermore, the presence of AuNPs in the sandwich structure reduced microstrain effects, measuring 1.94 × 10−3 compared to 3.38 × 10−3 in their absence. This reduction directly enhances carrier transport, which is particularly beneficial for accelerating the performance of photodetector devices. This effect of AuNPs also contributed to higher dielectric coefficients, further improving the photodetector performance. Under 1 Sun illumination conditions, this enhancement resulted in a rapid rising time of 95.4 ms, showcasing the potential for faster photodetection.

UV sensors hold significant promise for various applications in both military and civilian domains. However, achieving exceptional detectivity, responsivity, and rapid rise/decay times remains a notable challenge. In this study, we address this challenge by investigating the photodetection properties of CdS thin films and the influence of surface-deposited gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) on their performance. CdS thin films were produced using the pulsed laser deposition (PLD) technique on glass substrates, with CdS layers at a 100, 150, and 200 nm thickness. Extensive characterization was performed to evaluate the thin films’ structural, morphological, and optical properties. Photodetector devices based on CdS and AuNPs/CdS films were fabricated, and their performance parameters were evaluated under 365 nm light illumination. Our findings demonstrated that reducing CdS layer thickness enhanced performance concerning detectivity, responsivity, external quantum efficiency (EQE), and photocurrent gain. Furthermore, AuNP deposition on the surface of CdS films exhibited a substantial influence, especially on devices with thinner CdS layers. Among the configurations, AuNPs/CdS(100 nm) demonstrated the highest values in all evaluated parameters, including detectivity (1.1×1012 Jones), responsivity (13.86 A/W), EQE (47.2%), and photocurrent gain (9.2).

Gold (Au) nanoparticles trapped within Cu₂SnS₃ (CTS) thin films were effectively deposited on a low-cost glass substrate using a simple pulsed laser deposition of 15 mJ for 5 ns at a 10 Hz repetition rate. The film's structural, morphological, topography, optical, and optoelectronic properties were investigated. Highly crystalline ternary chalcogenide CTS with tetragonal symmetry and 17 nm grain size is prepared. The 110 Ω resistivity of the thin film increases up to 125 Ω indicating a negative photoresponse under visible light excitation. The decrease in the photocurrent is also observed with Cu₂SnS₃/Au/Cu₂SnS₃ sandwich ternary chalcogenide structure at resistivities values from 31 to 35 Ω and a Joule effect influence the presence of plasmonic Au nanoparticle interlayers involved a lower phonon disorder given a higher photoresponse effect as predicted from Urbach energy.