Synthetic Strategies, Thermal Stability, and Optical Properties for Nanostructured Famatinite with Cu-Site Doping
ACS Citation
Jensen, M.S.; Plass, K.E.; Anderson, M.E. Synthetic Strategies, Thermal Stability, and Optical Properties for Nanostructured Famatinite with Cu-Site Doping. Chem. Mater. 2022, 34 (20), 9086-9097. DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemmater.2c01888
Version of Record
Abstract
A copper–antimony–sulfide phase known as famatinite (Cu3SbS4), with desirable properties for photovoltaic and thermoelectric applications, has been synthesized using a solution-phase technique that is energy-efficient and surfactant-free. The modified polyol process produced phase-pure nanoparticles (20–30 nm diameter) and allowed the facile incorporation of a range of Cu-site dopants (Fe, Ni, Zn, and Mn). Synthetic optimization identified the ideal reaction time and temperature to produce phase-pure famatinite and revealed covellite (CuS) as the primary growth intermediate. The effect of Cu-site dopants and nanostructuring on the thermal and optical properties was investigated. Thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry showed that doping the nanoparticles on the Cu-site improved thermal stability to be comparable with larger particles. Decomposition analysis by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) further demonstrated the stability of famatinite with Cu-site dopants and identified sulfur loss as a major factor in the phase transition of famatinite to tetrahedrite (Cu12Sb4S13) upon annealing. Optical characterization of famatinite revealed a direct ∼0.9 eV band gap regardless of dopant. Dispersibility of famatinite nanoparticles was tailored for different solvents by post-synthetic surface functionalization. The combination of thermal stability, favorable optical properties, and processability demonstrated herein affords famatinite materials with tunable properties for application in solar cells and thermoelectric devices.
Source Name
Chemistry of Materials
Publication Date
10-3-2022
Document Type
Citation
Citation Type
Article