Abstract
Copper zinc tin sulfide (CZTS) nanocrystal inks are promising candidates for the development of cheap, efficient, scalable, and nontoxic photovoltaic (PV) devices. However, optimization of the synthetic chemistry to achieve these goals remains a key challenge. Herein we describe a single-step, aqueous-based synthesis that yields high-quality CZTS nanocrystal inks while also minimizing residual organic impurities. By exploiting simultaneous redox and crystal formation reactions, square-platelet-like CZTS nanocrystals stabilized by Sn2S6 4- and thiourea are produced. The CZTS synthesis is optimized by using a combination of inductively coupled plasma analysis, Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction to assess the versatility of the synthesis and identify suitable composition ranges for achieving phase-pure CZTS. It is found that mild heat treatment between 185 and 220 °C is most suitable for achieving this because this temperature range is sufficiently high to thermalize existing ligands and ink additives while minimizing tin loss, which is problematic at higher temperatures. The low temperatures required to process these nanocrystal inks to give CZTS thin films are readily amenable to production-scale processes.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1655-1665 |
| Number of pages | 11 |
| Journal | Langmuir |
| Volume | 34 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 30 Jan 2018 |
Cite this
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Aqueous synthesis of high-quality Cu2ZnSnS4 nanocrystals and their thermal annealing characteristics. / Ritchie, Cameron; Chesman, Anthony S.R.; Styles, Mark; Jasieniak, Jacek J.; Mulvaney, Paul.
In: Langmuir, Vol. 34, No. 4, 30.01.2018, p. 1655-1665.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
TY - JOUR
T1 - Aqueous synthesis of high-quality Cu2ZnSnS4 nanocrystals and their thermal annealing characteristics
AU - Ritchie, Cameron
AU - Chesman, Anthony S.R.
AU - Styles, Mark
AU - Jasieniak, Jacek J.
AU - Mulvaney, Paul
PY - 2018/1/30
Y1 - 2018/1/30
N2 - Copper zinc tin sulfide (CZTS) nanocrystal inks are promising candidates for the development of cheap, efficient, scalable, and nontoxic photovoltaic (PV) devices. However, optimization of the synthetic chemistry to achieve these goals remains a key challenge. Herein we describe a single-step, aqueous-based synthesis that yields high-quality CZTS nanocrystal inks while also minimizing residual organic impurities. By exploiting simultaneous redox and crystal formation reactions, square-platelet-like CZTS nanocrystals stabilized by Sn2S6 4- and thiourea are produced. The CZTS synthesis is optimized by using a combination of inductively coupled plasma analysis, Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction to assess the versatility of the synthesis and identify suitable composition ranges for achieving phase-pure CZTS. It is found that mild heat treatment between 185 and 220 °C is most suitable for achieving this because this temperature range is sufficiently high to thermalize existing ligands and ink additives while minimizing tin loss, which is problematic at higher temperatures. The low temperatures required to process these nanocrystal inks to give CZTS thin films are readily amenable to production-scale processes.
AB - Copper zinc tin sulfide (CZTS) nanocrystal inks are promising candidates for the development of cheap, efficient, scalable, and nontoxic photovoltaic (PV) devices. However, optimization of the synthetic chemistry to achieve these goals remains a key challenge. Herein we describe a single-step, aqueous-based synthesis that yields high-quality CZTS nanocrystal inks while also minimizing residual organic impurities. By exploiting simultaneous redox and crystal formation reactions, square-platelet-like CZTS nanocrystals stabilized by Sn2S6 4- and thiourea are produced. The CZTS synthesis is optimized by using a combination of inductively coupled plasma analysis, Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction to assess the versatility of the synthesis and identify suitable composition ranges for achieving phase-pure CZTS. It is found that mild heat treatment between 185 and 220 °C is most suitable for achieving this because this temperature range is sufficiently high to thermalize existing ligands and ink additives while minimizing tin loss, which is problematic at higher temperatures. The low temperatures required to process these nanocrystal inks to give CZTS thin films are readily amenable to production-scale processes.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85041431239&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1021/acs.langmuir.7b03885
DO - 10.1021/acs.langmuir.7b03885
M3 - Article
VL - 34
SP - 1655
EP - 1665
JO - Langmuir: the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids
JF - Langmuir: the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids
SN - 0743-7463
IS - 4
ER -