Microwave assisted synthesis of Cu₂ZnSnS₄ colloidal nanoparticle inks

Abstract

Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) nanoparticle inks were synthesized for the first time by a one‐pot synthesis method using microwave heating. Precursor solutions were mixed and reacted at 190 °C for 30 min. Varying the initial concentration of the metal chlorides in ethylene glycol was necessary to avoid formation of copper rich and zinc poor nanoparticles. Analysis of the reaction supernatant indicates that Cu+ was fully utilized while significant amounts of Zn2+ remained unreacted. The CZTS nanoparticles were determined to be 7.6 ± 2.1 nm in diameter and were found to agglomerate into larger clusters. A solar cell fabricated with the CZTS nanoparticles had a conversion efficiency of 0.25%.

Kesterite based thin film absorber layers from ball milled precursors

“…There is a small weight loss of 10 % from 200 to 400°C, likely due to loss of S and Se. It is unlikely that the weight loss is due to binary sulfides at these temperatures [17]. After 400°C up to 1200°C, there is no indication of material loss indicating phase stability.…”

Synthesis and characterization of nanoparticles of CZTSe by microwave-assited chemical synthesis

“…Among a rich variety of chemical methods including solvothermal, hot-injection or arrested precipitation, sol-gel and wet chemical route [23][24][25], microwave-assisted chemical synthesis (MACS) is a method not frequently used for synthesis of inorganic materials; there are few publications regarding the synthesis of this kind of metal chalcogenides, such as CZTS, CuInSe2, CuInTe2, CuInS2, ZnSe, Cu2S, CdS, CdSe, ZnS, ZnSe and CdTe [38][39][40][41][42][43][44].…”

Phase-controlled synthesis of Cu2ZnSnS4 powders via the microwave-assisted solvothermal route

“…The heating effect is created via the interaction of the dipole moments associated with the polar molecules of the solvent with the high frequency electromagnetic radiation. According to the recent reports, microwave irradiation is proved to be highly efficient, reliable, and less time consuming in comparison to the conventional methods for the synthesis of Cu 2 ZnSnS 4 powders [30,31].…”