Energy consumption and environmental pollution are major issues faced by the world. The present study introduces a single solution using SnS2 for these two major global problems. SnS2 nanoparticles and thin films were explored as an adsorbent to remove organic toxic materials (Rhodamine B (RhB)) from water and an alternative to the toxic cadmium sulfide (CdS) buffer for thin-film solar cells, respectively. Primary characterization tools such as X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Raman, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and UV-Vis-NIR spectroscopy were used to analyze the SnS2 nanoparticles and thin films. At a reaction time of 180 min, 0.4 g/L of SnS2 nanoparticles showed the highest adsorption capacity of 85% for RhB (10 ppm), indicating that SnS2 is an appropriate adsorbent. The fabricated Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGS) device with SnS2 as a buffer showed a conversion efficiency (~5.1%) close to that (~7.5%) of a device fabricated with the conventional CdS buffer, suggesting that SnS2 has potential as an alternative buffer.
Keywords: Cu(In,Ga)Se2; RhB; SnS2; adsorbent; dyes; nanoparticles; solar cell; thin films.