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Synthesis of Quaternary Cu(InxGa1 − x) Se2 Nanoparticles for Photovoltaic Applications Using Heating-up Method

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Abstract

Nowadays, thin-film solar cells based on nanoparticles have attracted much attention from photovoltaic cell researchers and industries due to their fairly high efficiency and economic costs. In this paper, tetragonal chalcopyrite, Cu(InxGa1 − x)Se2, with x = 0, 0.5, 0.8, 1 is produced by heating-up method. The structure of nanoparticles differ in terms of morphology and absorption properties based on synthesis temperatures 250, 255, 260, 265, 270 and 280 °C and gallium molar ratio over total gallium and indium content. These features are characterized using scanning electron microscope, X-ray diffraction, and absorption spectroscopy in visual, ultra-violate and close-infrared wavelengths. Results indicated that by decreasing x, or in other word increasing gallium content, absorption edge rises toward visible light. Any difference in absorption edge changes band gap and as a result energy gap and cell absorption increase considerably. Furthermore, in heating-up method, increasing reaction temperature improves nanoparticle crystallites and as a result absorption and cells efficiency increase. Produced nanoparticles are spherical in shape which vary around 30–80 nm in size.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by Ahar Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ahar, Iran.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, Ahar Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ahar, Islamic Republic of Iran

    Hassan Absalan

  2. Atomic and Molecular Group, Physics Department, Faculty of Basic Science, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, P.O.Box 14115-175, Islamic Republic of Iran

    Hadi Zarei

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  1. Hassan Absalan
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  2. Hadi Zarei
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Correspondence to Hassan Absalan.

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Absalan, H., Zarei, H. Synthesis of Quaternary Cu(InxGa1 − x) Se2 Nanoparticles for Photovoltaic Applications Using Heating-up Method. Iran J Sci Technol Trans Sci 43, 309–314 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40995-017-0440-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40995-017-0440-5

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