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Alloyed Cu2Fe1-xBaxSnS4 for photoelectrochemical applications: band gap tailoring and structural transition

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Abstract

Cu2Fe1-xBaxSnS4 (CFBTS) thin films have been fabricated by the low-cost successive ionic layer and adsorption reaction (SILAR) method. The bandgap energies of CFBTS thin films are observed to be tuned from ~ 1.67 to ~ 1.94 eV in a linear manner with increasing Ba content (0 ≤ × ≤ 1). The crystal structure of CFBTS thin films are affected by the change in the Fe/Ba ratio. The structural transition from stannite to trigonal is found with the increased barium content in CFBTS from X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy analysis. Sulfurized CBTS thin film exhibited pure trigonal phase without impurity peaks. Partial replacement of Fe with Ba in CFBTS alters the electronic structure of bulk CFBTS thin films, which affects charge separation and causes a change in band alignment. Finally, photo electrochemical studies were carried out for the as synthesised and the sulfurized samples.

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Funding

This work is supported by the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) (Research Grant ECR/2015/000208).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Amrita Center for Industrial Research and Innovation (ACIRI), Amrita School of Engineering, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Coimbatore, 641112, India

    Sreejith P. Madhusudanan & Sudip K. Batabyal

  2. Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Amrita School of Engineering, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Coimbatore, 641112, India

    Elamathy Balamoorthy & Thirugnasambandam G. Manivasagam

  3. Center of Excellence in Advanced Materials and Green Technologies, Amrita School of Engineering, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Coimbatore, 641112, India

    Elamathy Balamoorthy & Thirugnasambandam G. Manivasagam

  4. Department of Electronics & Communication Engineering, S V College of Engineering, Tirupati, 517507, Andhra Pradesh, India

    Suresh Kumar M.

  5. Department of Science, Amrita School of Physical Sciences, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Coimbatore, 641112, India

    Sudip K. Batabyal

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  1. Sreejith P. Madhusudanan
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Correspondence to Sudip K. Batabyal.

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Madhusudanan, S.P., Balamoorthy, E., M., S.K. et al. Alloyed Cu2Fe1-xBaxSnS4 for photoelectrochemical applications: band gap tailoring and structural transition. J Solid State Electrochem 26, 2411–2421 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10008-022-05243-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10008-022-05243-6

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