Solvothermal Synthesis of CuInS2 Nanoparticles in Ethylene Glycol–Water Medium and Their Photovoltaic Properties

Аннотация

CuInS₂ nanoparticles were synthesized by a solvothermal method using a 1:1 (v/v) water : ethylene glycol (EG) as a binary solvent mixture. The synthesized powder, characterized by XRD technique, was indexed as CuInS₂ with a tetragonal structure. FESEM and TEM images revealed that the CuInS₂ powder composed of spherical nanoparticles with diameters in the range of 15–30 nm. The CuInS₂ powder was also synthesized using water as a solvent for comparison. Particle size of the CuInS₂ nanoparticles synthesized using mixed solvent of water : EG was smaller with softer agglomeration behavior than those synthesized using water (50–75 nm) offering better photovoltaic properties, including open-circuit voltage (V_oc), short-circuit current density (J_sc), and conversion efficiency (η). The difference in these characteristics of the CuInS₂ nanoparticles was discussed based on some physicochemical properties of the solvents used.