Progress in sulfosalt research

Abstract

An overview over the progress in sulfosalts research is given, including basic and application oriented research work. The ternary and multinary compound semiconductor family is defined. The chemical composition possibilities are given as well as an introduction to the structural systematics. The peculiarities of the complex crystal structures are outlined. The main characteristics of thermodynamic properties are given exemplarily by the SnS–Sb2S3 pseudo‐binary phase diagram. A new phase in the Sn–Sb–S system, SnSb4S7, is reported and the new crystal structure is shown. The published methods of synthesis, thin film deposition, and nanoparticle preparation are listed in tables. A detailed listing of different methods, used for sulfosalt thin film deposition is presented. Data of physical properties are collected and presented. A compilation of measured bandgaps is given. The potential of sulfosalts in possible applications and the role in actual applications are widespread. They include photovoltaic (thin film solar cells) and thermoelectric energy conversion (thermoelectric generator, Peltier elements), phase change memory (rewritable compact discs), catalysis, X‐Ray detectors, and cryoelectronics. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

First principles study of electronic and optical properties of the ternary SnSb4S7 using modified Becke-Johnson potential

“…The dielectric function depends on the electronic band structure of a crystal, and its investigation by optical spectroscopy is a powerful tool for the determination of the overall band behavior of a solid. It comprises two parts, real and imaginary [23][24][25] i 1 1 2 ε ω ε ω ε ω ( ) = ( ) + ( ) ( ) 1 ε ω ( ) and 2 ε ω ( ) are real (dispersive) and imaginary (absorptive) parts of the complex dielectric function. Due to the monoclinic structure of SnSb 4 S 7 crystal, the optical functions can be separated into three diagonal components, xx, yy, and zz.…”

“…In order to better understand these materials with a particular emphasis on their physical properties for their possible technological applications, they have always been a prime field of interest for a material scientist. Sulfosalts are materials of considerable technological interest due to their applications in X-ray detectors [1] solar cells [2][3][4], cryoelectronics [5], and optoelectronic devices [6].…”

The effect of substrate temperature on the optical properties of SnSb4S7 thin films

“…When CuInS 2 (CIS) compare with the other materials, CIS absorber is more cheaper and useful material than the others. Sulfosalts or thiosalts chemicals were created by chemists during the XIXth century [1]. Sn-Sb-S systems are members of the IV-VI group of semiconductors which attracted some attention because of their interesting properties [2], and their potential applications in many technological fields such as: thermoelectric energy conversion application [4], phase change memory devices [3,5], X-rays detectors [3], and thin film solar cells [3,6].…”

The Crystal Structures of Pb5Sb4S11 (Boulangerite) – A Phase Transition Explains Seemingly Contradictory Structure Models

“…[3][4][5][6][7][8] For instance, Ag-doped SnS reaches thermoelectric Figure of merit ZT up to 0.6 at 900 K, [9] while PbBi 2 S 4 (galenobismutite) and Pb 3 Bi 2 S 6 (lillianite) reach about 0.3 at 750 K. The ZT value of Pb 5 Bi 6 Se 14 even reaches 0.5 at 700 K. [10] The crystal chemistry of chain-like structures of lead antimony sulfides has been discussed in detail by Skowron & Brown and Makovicky. [11,12] …”