Title: Synthesis of CuInSe₂ nanopowders by microwave assisted solvothermal method

Authors: F.A. Pulgarin-Agudelo; M. Placidi; A. Fairbrother; X. Fontané; V. Izquierdo Roca; P.J. Sebastian; F. Ramos; B. Pina; A. Pérez-Rodríguez; E. Saucedo

Addresses: Centro de Investigación en Energía-UNAM, 62580 Temixco, Morelos, México ' IREC, Catalonia Institute for Energy Research, C. Jardins de les Dones de Negre 1, 08930 Sant Adrià del Besòs (Barcelona), Spain ' IREC, Catalonia Institute for Energy Research, C. Jardins de les Dones de Negre 1, 08930 Sant Adrià del Besòs (Barcelona), Spain ' IREC, Catalonia Institute for Energy Research, C. Jardins de les Dones de Negre 1, 08930 Sant Adrià del Besòs (Barcelona), Spain ' IREC, Catalonia Institute for Energy Research, C. Jardins de les Dones de Negre 1, 08930 Sant Adrià del Besòs (Barcelona), Spain ' Centro de Investigación en Energía-UNAM, 62580 Temixco, Morelos, México ' FAE, Francisco Albero S.A.U., Rafael Barradas 19, 08908 Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain ' FAE, Francisco Albero S.A.U., Rafael Barradas 19, 08908 Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain ' IREC, Catalonia Institute for Energy Research, C. Jardins de les Dones de Negre 1, 08930 Sant Adrià del Besòs (Barcelona), Spain; IN2UB, Departament d'Electrònica, Universitat de Barcelona, C. Martí i Franquès 1, 08028 Barcelona, Spain ' IREC, Catalonia Institute for Energy Research, C. Jardins de les Dones de Negre 1, 08930 Sant Adrià del Besòs (Barcelona), Spain

Abstract: CuInSe₂ (CISe) nanopowders were synthesised using the innovative microwave assisted solvothermal method. We studied the impact of the synthesis temperature as well as the precursor composition on the morphological, compositional, and structural properties of the nanopowders. We have found that for the synthesis of stoichiometric CISe particulates with chalcopyrite phase structure, temperatures equal to 230°C and In concentration in excess in the reaction solution with respect to Cu are required. At lower temperatures (200°C) and In excess, the presence of binary phases such as Cu_xSe and In₂Se₃ is clearly detected indicating a inadequate In incorporation. At intermediate temperatures (215°C), CISe is mainly formed but preferentially with the Cu-Au polytype structure. The method presented here may be very interesting for the possible mass production of CISe nanopowders due to the facile temperature control, the fast reaction process, and the easy scalability.

Keywords: CuInSe2; copper indium diselenide; solar cells; microwave assisted solvothermal method; nanoparticles; transmission electron microscopy; TEM; CISe nanopowders; nanotechnology; temperature control; mass production.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNT.2013.058562

International Journal of Nanotechnology, 2013 Vol.10 No.12, pp.1029 - 1044

Published online: 07 Jan 2014 *

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