Colloidal synthesis of wurtzite Cu2FeSnS4 nanocrystals

Author

Zhang, Xiaoyan ; Bao, Ningzhong ; Ramasamy, Karthik ; Lin, Baoping ; Gupta, Arunava

Author_Institution

Dept. of Chem., Univ. of Abalama, Tuscaloosa, AL, USA

fYear

2012

fDate

3-8 June 2012

Abstract

Quaternary Cu₂FeSnS₄ (CFTS) nanocrystals exhibiting a new wurtzite phase have been synthesized using a solution-based method. The optimum temperature to obtain phase-pure wurtzite CFTS is ~210°C. As the reaction temperature is increased from 210°C to 310°C, a mixture of wurtzite and zinc blende CFTS is obtained. The morphology of the as-synthesized wurtzite CFTS is oblate spheroids with an average size of 20nm. The corresponding band gaps of CFTS nanocrystals synthesized at different temperatures varies between 1.54 eV-1.49 eV. Based on the results, CFTS with optimal band gap, low-toxicity composition and earth-abundant elements appears attractive as a low-cost substitute for use in thin film solar cells.

Keywords

colloids; copper compounds; iron compounds; nanostructured materials; solar cells; tin compounds; Cu₂FeSnS₄; colloidal synthesis; earth-abundant elements; electron volt energy 1.54 eV to 1.49 eV; optimal band gap; phase-pure wurtzite; quaternary nanocrystals; reaction temperature; size 20 nm; solution-based method; temperature 210 C to 310 C; thin film solar cells; wurtzite nanocrystals; wurtzite phase; zinc blende; Absorption; Crystals; Nanocrystals; Photonic band gap; Photovoltaic cells; X-ray scattering; Zinc; Cu2FeSnS4; Nanocrystals; optical property; wurtzite structure;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (PVSC), 2012 38th IEEE

Conference_Location

Austin, TX

ISSN

0160-8371

Print_ISBN

978-1-4673-0064-3

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/PVSC.2012.6317981

Filename

6317981