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Constructing of Novel Cu2AlSnS4 (CATS) Compound: Synthesis, Chracterization and Photocatalytic Activities Approach

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Abstract

Cu2AlSnS4 (CATS) was generated through directly fusing of extremely pure elements. Powder show a tetragonal crystal system belongs to the space group Fd3m and the CATS film displays narrow and weak diffraction peaks corresponding to the structure of pure kesterite without secondary phase. CATS thin films were produced using the vacuum thermal evaporation process and then deposited to surfaces that ranged in temperature from 25 to 300 °C. Several techniques were used to investigate the obtained films. The surface appearance and chemical content films exposed their homogenous character. The optical analysis displayed good visible-range optical absorption and optical direct band gap of 1.30–1.65 eV with excellent transmission. CATS showed high photocatalytic efficacy to degrade methylene blue completely under UV-light irradiation. These results will open the opportunity for using this new material as talented candidate in solar cells and removing organic pollutants from aqueous solutions.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the Deanship of Scientific Research at Umm Al-Qura University for supporting this work by Grant Code: (22UQU4331172DSR01).

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The authors have not disclosed any funding.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Physics Department, Faculty of Applied Science, Umm AL-Qura University, P.O Box 37, Makkah, Saudi Arabia

    A. Timoumi & O. H. Alsalmi

  2. LPMS, National Engineering School of Tunis, Belvedere, P.O Box 37, 1002, Tunis, Tunisia

    A. Timoumi

  3. Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Applied Science, Umm Al-Qura University, 21955, Makkah, Saudi Arabia

    N. El Guesmi & S. A. Ahmed

  4. Department of Physics, Science Faculty, Taiba University, Madinah, Saudi Arabia

    S. N. Alamri

  5. Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Assiut University, 71516, Assiut, Egypt

    S. A. Ahmed

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Contributions

AT: Investigation, Supervision, Data curation, Methodology, draft preparation, Writing—review & editing. NEG: Investigation, Methodology, Data curation, Writing—review & editing. SNA: Investigation, Data curation. OHA: Investigation, Supervision. SAA: Investigation, Methodology, Writing— review & editing.

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Correspondence to A. Timoumi or N. El Guesmi.

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Timoumi, A., El Guesmi, N., Alamri, S.N. et al. Constructing of Novel Cu2AlSnS4 (CATS) Compound: Synthesis, Chracterization and Photocatalytic Activities Approach. J Inorg Organomet Polym 33, 1592–1602 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10904-023-02582-3

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