Highly concentrated synthesis of copper-zinc-tin-sulfide nanocrystals with easily decomposable capping molecules for printed photovoltaic applications

Among various candidate materials, Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) is a promising earth-abundant semiconductor for low-cost thin film solar cells. We report a facile, less toxic, highly concentrated synthetic method utilizing the heretofore unrecognized, easily decomposable capping ligand of triphenylphosphate, wh...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nanoscale 2013-11, Vol.5 (21), p.10183
Main Authors: Kim, Youngwoo, Woo, Kyoohee, Kim, Inhyuk, Cho, Yong Soo, Jeong, Sunho, Moon, Jooho
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Amines - chemistry
Copper - chemistry
Nanoparticles - chemistry
Organophosphates - chemistry
Semiconductors
Solar Energy
Sulfides - chemistry
Tin - chemistry
Zinc - chemistry
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Summary:Among various candidate materials, Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) is a promising earth-abundant semiconductor for low-cost thin film solar cells. We report a facile, less toxic, highly concentrated synthetic method utilizing the heretofore unrecognized, easily decomposable capping ligand of triphenylphosphate, where phase-pure, single-crystalline, and well-dispersed colloidal CZTS nanocrystals were obtained. The favorable influence of the easily decomposable capping ligand on the microstructural evolution of device-quality CZTS absorber layers was clarified based on a comparative study with commonly used oleylamine-capped CZTS nanoparticles. The resulting CZTS nanoparticles enabled us to produce a dense and crack-free absorbing layer through annealing under a N2 + H2S (4%) atmosphere, demonstrating a solar cell with an efficiency of 3.6% under AM 1.5 illumination.
ISSN:2040-3364
2040-3372
DOI:10.1039/c3nr03104g