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Geomaterials related to photovoltaics: a nanostructured Fe-bearing kuramite, Cu3SnS4

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Abstract

The successful synthesis of nanoparticles of Fe-bearing kuramite, (Cu,Fe)3SnS4, is reported in this study. Nanocrystalline powders were obtained through a mild, environmentally friendly and scalable solvothermal approach, in a single run. The sample was the object of a multidisciplinary investigation, including X-ray diffraction and absorption, scanning electron microscopy and microanalysis, electron paramagnetic resonance, diffuse reflectance and Mössbauer spectroscopy as well as SQUID magnetometry. The nanoparticles consist of pure Fe-bearing kuramite, exhibiting tetragonal structure. The valence state of the metal cations was assessed to be Cu+, Sn4+ and Fe3+. The material presents a band gap value of 1.6 eV, which is fully compatible with solar cell applications. The uptake of Fe by nanokuramite opens a compositional field where the physical properties can be tuned. We thus foster the application of Fe-bearing nanokuramite for photovoltaics and energy storage purposes.

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Acknowledgments

The authors warmly acknowledge Luisa Poggi (Museo di Storia Naturale of the Università di Firenze, Italy), Piero Lattanzi and Stefania Da Pelo (Università di Cagliari) for kindly providing reference samples. Antonio De Luca, Silvano Bellandi and Nando Capolupo (Università di Firenze) are acknowledged for the technical support in samples synthesis and preparation. XAS data were performed at the BM08 “LISA” beamline (ESRF, Grenoble, France) during the Si-2345 experimental beamtime. ESRF is gratefully acknowledged for provision of synchrotron radiation and for provision of the technical infrastructure. Authors want to express their thanks to two anonymous reviewers, who provided useful comments to this manuscript.

Funding

This study benefited of funding by the Regione Toscana, under the ECOSOL project, and by Gabbrielli Technology srl.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dip. Scienze della Terra, Università di Firenze, via G. La Pira, 4, 50121, Florence, Italy

    Francesco Di Benedetto & Maurizio Romanelli

  2. Research Unit of Florence, INSTM, Florence, Italy

    Francesco Di Benedetto & Andrea Caneschi

  3. CNR, IGG, Florence, Italy

    Francesco Di Benedetto & Giordano Montegrossi

  4. Dip. Chimica, Università di Firenze, Florence, Italy

    Ilaria Bencistà, Silvia Frizzera, Andrea Caneschi & Massimo Innocenti

  5. CNR, IOM, OGG @ ESRF, Grenoble, France

    Francesco D’Acapito

  6. CNR, ICCOM, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy

    Massimo Innocenti, Alessandro Lavacchi & Werner Oberhauser

  7. Department of Chemistry and Physics of Materials, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria

    Herbert Dittrich, Gerold Tippelt & Georg Amthauer

  8. CNR, IPCF, Pisa, Italy

    Luca A. Pardi

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  1. Francesco Di Benedetto
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  2. Ilaria Bencistà
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  3. Francesco D’Acapito
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  5. Andrea Caneschi
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Correspondence to Francesco Di Benedetto.

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Di Benedetto, F., Bencistà, I., D’Acapito, F. et al. Geomaterials related to photovoltaics: a nanostructured Fe-bearing kuramite, Cu3SnS4 . Phys Chem Minerals 43, 535–544 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00269-016-0814-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00269-016-0814-9

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