Synthesis of CulnS2, CulnSe2, and Cu(InxGa(1-x))Se2 (CIGS) nanocrystal "inks" for printable photovoltaics

Matthew G Panthani; Vahid Akhavan; Brian Goodfellow; Johanna P Schmidtke; Lawrence Dunn; Ananth Dodabalapur; Paul F Barbara; Brian A Korgel

doi:10.1021/ja805845q

Synthesis of CulnS2, CulnSe2, and Cu(InxGa(1-x))Se2 (CIGS) nanocrystal "inks" for printable photovoltaics

J Am Chem Soc. 2008 Dec 10;130(49):16770-7. doi: 10.1021/ja805845q.

Authors

Matthew G Panthani¹, Vahid Akhavan, Brian Goodfellow, Johanna P Schmidtke, Lawrence Dunn, Ananth Dodabalapur, Paul F Barbara, Brian A Korgel

Affiliation

¹ Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas Materials Institute and Center for Nano- and Molecular Science and Technology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712-1062, USA.

PMID: 19049468
DOI: 10.1021/ja805845q

Abstract

Chalcopyrite copper indium sulfide (CuInS2) and copper indium gallium selenide (Cu(InxGa(1-x))-Se2; CIGS) nanocrystals ranging from approximately 5 to approximately 25 nm in diameter were synthesized by arrested precipitation in solution. The In/Ga ratio in the CIGS nanocrystals could be controlled by varying the In/Ga reactant ratio in the reaction, and the optical properties of the CulnS2 and CIGS nanocrystals correspond to those of the respective bulk materials. Using methods developed to produce uniform, crack-free micrometer-thick films, CulnSe2 nanocrystals were tested in prototype photovoltaic devices. As a proof-of-concept, the nanocrystal-based devices exhibited a reproducible photovoltaic response.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.