Synthesis and Characterization of Copper-Based Ternary Metal Chalcogenides

Synthesis and Characterization of Copper-Based Ternary Metal Chalcogenides
Author: Jose Javier Sanchez Rodriguez
Publisher:
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2023
Genre: Electronic dissertations
ISBN:

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The current climate crisis is a great concern to humankind due to the devastating effects of the consistent rise of anthropogenic greenhouse gases. A viable alternative to reducing greenhouse gas emissions is the development of solar harvesting technologies. The need to develop new semiconductor materials with more capacity to absorb light and convert it into electricity is rapidly growing. A promising class of materials for this purpose are copper-based ternary chalcogenides such as CuCrS2, CuSb1-xBixS2, and Cu3VS4.The synthesis and characterization of copper-based ternary chalcogenides nanocrystals (NCs) have gained popularity in the scientific community due to their novel, physical, chemical, optical, electronic, magnetic, and mechanical properties. NCs can be precursors to the next-generation nanoparticle-based thin film solar cells. This generation of thin film solar cells is advantageous in terms of the compounding benefits. Materials in the forms of NCs offer size, and morphology-dependent properties, high absorption coefficients, and tunable bandgaps. Nanoparticle-based thin film solar cells use very thin layers of material, lowering their production cost while making the systems flexible, more efficient, and compatible with new and existing infrastructure.This dissertation addresses several challenging issues and realizes the successful fabrication of novel CuCrS2, CuSb1-xBixS2 (x=1, 0.18), and Cu3VS4 NCs-based thin films. These systems were synthesized using two different thermal decomposition methods: heat-up (HU) and hot-injection (HI). This dissertation presents a detailed study involving the synthesis and characterization of the above-mentioned semiconductors by applying the developed nano-to-thin film approach. Their optical and electrical properties were explored, and their respective optical bandgaps were determined using UV-vis and electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS). The ability of the fabricated thin films to generate a photocurrent under sunlight irradiation was explored, reporting their responsivities and current conversion efficiencies.

Chalcogenide-Based Nanomaterials as Photocatalysts

Chalcogenide-Based Nanomaterials as Photocatalysts
Author: Mohammad Mansoob Khan
Publisher: Elsevier
Total Pages: 378
Release: 2021-04-07
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 0128209178

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Chalcogenide-Based Nanomaterials as Photocatalysts deals with the different types of chalcogenide-based photocatalytic reactions, covering the fundamental concepts of photocatalytic reactions involving chalcogenides for a range of energy and environmental applications. Sections focus on nanostructure control, synthesis methods, activity enhancement strategies, environmental applications, and perspectives of chalcogenide-based nanomaterials. The book offers guidelines for designing new chalcogenide-based nanoscale photocatalysts at low cost and high efficiency for efficient utilization of solar energy in the areas of energy production and environment remediation. Provides information on the development of novel chalcogenide-based nanomaterials Outlines the fundamentals of chalcogenides-based photocatalysis Includes techniques for heterogeneous catalysis based on chalcogenide-based nanomaterials

Electrochemistry of Metal Chalcogenides

Electrochemistry of Metal Chalcogenides
Author: Mirtat Bouroushian
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 365
Release: 2010-04-23
Genre: Science
ISBN: 3642039677

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The author provides a unified account of the electrochemical material science of metal chalcogenide (MCh) compounds and alloys with regard to their synthesis, processing and applications. Starting with the chemical fundamentals of the chalcogens and their major compounds, the initial part of the book includes a systematic description of the MCh solids on the basis of the Periodic Table in terms of their structures and key properties. This is followed by a general discussion on the electrochemistry of chalcogen species, and the principles underlying the electrochemical formation of inorganic compounds/alloys. The core of the book offers an insight into available experimental results and inferences regarding the electrochemical preparation and microstructural control of conventional and novel MCh structures. It also aims to survey their photoelectrochemistry, both from a material-oriented point of view and as connected to specific processes such as photocatalysis and solar energy conversion. Finally, the book illustrates the relevance of MCh materials to various applications of electrochemical interest such as (electro)catalysis in fuel cells, energy storage with intercalation electrodes, and ion sensing.

Controlled Synthesis and Characterization of Magnetic Chalcospinels Nanocrystals

Controlled Synthesis and Characterization of Magnetic Chalcospinels Nanocrystals
Author: Farhad Akbari Afkhami
Publisher:
Total Pages:
Release: 2020
Genre: Electronic dissertations
ISBN:

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Binary and ternary metal chalcogenides have become well-known materials among chemists, physicists, material scientists, and other researchers of the field, and they have attracted significant attention because of their novel chemical, magnetic, electronic, mechanical and optical properties. Among the metal chalcogenides, chromium-based chalcospinels ACr2X4 (A = Cu, Co, Fe, Cd, and Hg; X = S, Se, and Te) have gained significant attention because they are a notable class of magnetic materials such as semiconductors, magnetic metals, and insulators. In this work, a general overview of binary and ternary metal chalcogenides and their nanocrystals has been provided. We have also provided an overview of the wet-chemical colloidal methods as an important approach to size and shape-controlled synthesize of nanocrystals. We have also discussed the importance of metal doping reactions as a pathway to create previously unavailable multielemental materials for high-performance applications. In this set of studies, colloidal nanocrystals of chromium-based chalcospinels of CuCr2S4 and CuCr2Se4 have been synthesized via hot-injection and heat-up methods and were characterized using experimental methodology comprised of different microstructural and structural tests. The magnetic properties of these nanocrystals have also been studied. The next studied system was Cr-doped pyrite CuSe2 nanocrystals, eventually leading to the observation of significant enhancement of ferromagnetic moment by Cr-doping in octahedral sites of the pyrite structure. We performed a unique reaction in which nanocrystals of CrxCu1-xSe2 (x = 0.1-0.5) formed in the pyrite phase, which is not stable in bulk form. The host p-CuSe2 nanocubes did also undergo a degradation influenced by the reaction temperature and the doping of Cr3+ ions in the pyrite crystal structure. The Cr-doped nanocrystals of the pyrite phase were formed during the heat-up procedure and by increasing the reaction temperature transformed to CuCr2Se4 spinel nanocrystals. To the best of our knowledge, no cationic substitution of chromium for copper has been reported on pyrite CuSe2 systems so far, likely due to the significant size difference between chromium and copper. Therefore, the results of this work are a powerful approach for the design and fabrication of new multielemental materials that may not be stable in the bulk form.

Design, Synthesis and Applications of One-Dimensional Chalcogenide Hetero-Nanostructures

Design, Synthesis and Applications of One-Dimensional Chalcogenide Hetero-Nanostructures
Author: Tao-Tao Zhuang
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 120
Release: 2018-04-07
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 9811301883

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This thesis focuses on the design and synthesis of novel one-dimensional colloidal chalcogenide hetero-nanostructures for enhancing solar energy conversion applications. Semiconducting nanomaterials are particular attractive for energy conversion due to the quantum confinement effects dictating their unique optical and electronic properties. Steering the photo-induced charge-flow based on unique bandgap alignment in semiconductor heterojunctions is critical for photo-electric/chemical conversion. The author presents the controllable preparation strategies to synthesize 1D chalcogenide hetero-nanostructures with various fine structures, further been used as excellent template materials for preparing other novel and complex hybrid architectures through a series of chemical transformations. The heterogeneous growth mechanisms of novel hetero-nanostructures is studied for developing a facile and general method to prepare more novel heterostructures. The band gap structure simulations, detailed charge carrier behaviour and unique solar energy conversion properties of the prepared hybrid nanostructures are deeply investigated. This work would open a new door to rationally designing hybrid systems for photo-induced applications.

Synthesis and Characterization of Earth Abundant and Nontoxic Metal Chalcogenides Produced Via Aerosol Spray Pyrolysis for Photovoltaic Applications

Synthesis and Characterization of Earth Abundant and Nontoxic Metal Chalcogenides Produced Via Aerosol Spray Pyrolysis for Photovoltaic Applications
Author: Patrick John Davis
Publisher:
Total Pages: 66
Release: 2013
Genre: Copper sulfide
ISBN: 9781303506864

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A novel synthesis technique for the production of copper zinc tin sulfide (CZTS) nanocrystals has been developed using aerosol spray pyrolysis. CZTS is a quaternary semiconducting material that shows promise as a replacement to common semiconductors such as CdTe and CIGS for use in photovoltaic devices. CIGS is currently being commercialized in the photovoltaic industry, but rare and expensive indium and gallium components threaten its long term viability. CZTS looks to be one of the best alternatives to CIGS with all earth abundant and non-toxic materials and recent impressive gains in efficiency. A number of synthesis techniques have been thoroughly studied and detailed previously. In our novel approach, we synthesis single phase nanocrystals, starting with zinc, copper, and tin diethyldithiocarbamate precursors in a toluene solvent. The precursor solution is aerosolized using an ultrasonic nebulizer wherein the droplets are vacuumed through a tube furnace and nucleation occurs. We reproducibly synthesize kesterite, Cu2ZnSnS4, nanocrystals. This technique continuously converts the chemical precursor into high-purity nanopowder with a production rate of ~50 mg/hour for an un-optimized, lab-scale reactor. Using the same precursor chemistry, we have also been able to deposit high-quality CZTS thin films directly onto Mo-coated Swiss glass substrates using the aerosol spray pyrolysis technique. A thorough discussion of the current photovoltaic field, the processing parameters and challenges of nanocrystal and thin film production, and the experimental results will be presented. Characterization via Raman spectroscopy, EDS, XRD, TEM and XPS will be offered along with future recommendations and considerations.