A rapid development of photovoltaics has been observed recently. Permanent interest in new cheap and efficient photovoltaic devices stimulates a constant search for new semiconductor materials and structures. The success of materials based on CIGS (CuIn 1-x Ga x Se 2 ) is limited by the prohibitive prices of the elements In and Ga. A family of quaternary semiconducting materials of the Cu 2 ZnSnS 4 type, crystallizing mainly in the kesterite structure, offers a promise of new
A growing interest in devices based on spintronics demands a development of magnetic semiconductors. A promising material for such applications is kesterite doped with ferromagnetic elements. We present a method of obtaining Cu2MSnS4 (M = Zn, Fe, Mn, Ni) single crystals, using metals, elemental sulfur and minor amounts of iodine. The syntheses were carried out in quartz ampoules closed under vacuum and heated in a tube furnace at 650°C for 7 to 90 days. A method of synthesis of comparatively good tetragonal single crystals of Cu2FeSnS4 and Cu2MnSnS4 was achieved. Raman spectra of purely Mn-and Nisubstituted kesterites have been measured for the first time.
Efficient and inexpensive method of chemical transport based on Ag 2 S catalyst was used to produce relatively large crystals of SnS 2 , up to 5 mm in linear size. Good quality of the obtained layered crystals of SnS 2 was confirmed by Xray, SEM, EDX and Raman measurements, however the layers appeared to be slightly twisted in relation to each other. Nanometric (down to c.a. 10 nm) layers of SnS 2 on a Si substrate were obtained by mechanical exfoliation.
Ammonium hexachlorostannate single crystals were obtained from gas phase of decomposition products of SnCl 4 ·5NH 3 formed in reaction of liquid tin(IV) chloride with gaseous ammonia. The crystals of both cubic (NH 4 ) 2 SnCl 6 , obtained hitherto only by crystallization from solution, and of the formerly unknown orthorhombic polymorph were deposited on inner walls of the quartz reactor used. The values of the structure refinement factor R obtained is 0.01. Unit cell parameters of the new orthorhombic form of ammonium hexachlorostannate were determined and are reported.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.