Structural and optical properties of nanocrystalline Sb2S3 films deposited by chemical solution deposition

Approach to Transparent Photovoltaics Based on Wide Band Gap Sb2S3 Absorber Layers and Optics-Based Device Optimization

“…Herein, we present a novel inorganic TPV based on antimony sulfide (Sb 2 S 3 ) thin films. Sb 2 S 3 is promising as a transparent absorber material as it exhibits a wide band gap (1.6–1.8 eV) and a high absorption coefficient (10 5 cm –1 ). − Sb 2 S 3 thin films could be formed under 330 °C, a relatively low temperature compared with other inorganic thin films, which is advantageous for flexible solar cell fabrication using transparent and flexible polyimide substrates. Additionally, the constituent elements of Sb 2 S 3 are both earth-abundant and nontoxic, providing for a low-cost and environment-friendly renewable energy device .…”

A green and facile hydrothermal approach for the synthesis of high-quality semi-conducting Sb2S3 thin films

“…Although the preparation procedure of this method is relatively simple, some oxides that generated as the impurities in aqueous solution easily precipitated onto the surface of the films, consequently retarding the performance of the assembled optoelectronic devices due to the recombination of charge carriers [14]. Moreover, as the deposition of Sb2S3 films is carried out in the solutions with the extra additives or specific solvents (e.g., glacial acetic acid [7] or acetone-water mixture [15,16]), the obtained band gap of 2.2 eV is not favorable for absorber layer materials of solar cells [17]. In addition, since the chemical bath deposition method mainly employs the antimony chloride and the toxic organics (e.g., thioacetamide [13]) as the precursors, the usage of complexing agents (e.g., EDTA [15] and tartaric acid [18]) or organic solvent (e.g., acetone [15,16]) is essential to prevent the precipitation of basic salt, causing a tedious post-purification to avoid the environment pollution.…”

“…The weak intensity peaks located at 24.89 º / 25.01 º were indexed to the orthorhombic stibnite phase (JCPDS #42-1393), suggesting a low crystallinity. After being annealed, several sharp diffraction peaks located at 11.12 º,15.64 º, 17.52 º, 24.89 º / 25.01 º, 29.25 º and 32.35 º were assigned to the (110), (020), (120), (130 / 310), (211) and (221) planes of orthorhombic stibnite phase (JCPDS #42-1393). As the annealing temperature increased, all of these diffraction peaks kept at same position became sharp and strong gradually, indicating an improved crystallinity of the Sb2S3 films.…”

Synthesis of Water-Soluble Antimony Sulfide Quantum Dots and Their Photoelectric Properties

“…Figure 2b shows the photoluminescence (PL) spectra of dispersion with a concentration of 2 mg/ml where Sb 2 S 3 was prepared with different reaction times. PL spectra for all Sb 2 S 3 samples exhibit two distinct emission peaks at around 510 nm (2.43 eV) and 880 nm (1.41 eV), which is significantly different from nanostructured Sb 2 S 3 prepared by chemical solution deposition (CBD) [20]. According to the previous report, CBD-synthesized Sb 2 S 3 nanocrystals show a weak band edge emission peaked at around 610 nm (2.03 eV) presumably resulting from excitons and a sulfur vacancy-related strong emission peaked at 717 nm (1.72 eV).…”