$p$-type transparent conductor: Zn-doped $\mathrm{Cu}\mathrm{Al}{\mathrm{S}}_2$

A series of Zn-doped $\mathrm{Cu}\mathrm{Al}{\mathrm{S}}_2$ bulk samples was synthesized by spark plasma sintering, and the $\mathrm{Cu}{\mathrm{Al}}_{0.90}{\mathrm{Zn}}_{0.10}{\mathrm{S}}_2$ film was prepared on a glass substrate by channel spark ablation. Their electrical and optical properties were carefully investigated. A sharp increase in conductivity due to the enhancement of both Hall mobility and carrier concentration was observed with the introduction of Zn. $p$-type conduction was confirmed by both the positive Seebeck coefficient and Hall coefficient. The conductivity of the thin film is as high as $63.5\mathrm{S}{\mathrm{cm}}^{-1}$ at room temperature, and the average transmittance in the visible region is above 80%.