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Solvent-dependent structural and optical properties of Cu2MSnS4 synthesized via ultrasonic-assisted sol–gel method

  • Original Paper: Nano-structured materials (particles, fibers, colloids, composites, etc.)
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Abstract

Herein, structural and optical properties of Cu2MSnS4 (M = Co and Fe) nanoparticles synthesized by ultrasonic-assisted sol–gel method using two different solvents are studied. XRD study shows the nanoparticles with tetragonal kesterite structure and crystallite size in the range of 4–7 nm. XPS study reveals the oxidation state of constituent elements. The optical band gap and textural properties like surface area and pore size are estimated through UV–VIS–NIR and nitrogen adsorption–desorption analyses.

Highlights

  • Quaternary Cu2MSnS4 (M = Co & Fe) nanoparticles were successfully synthesized using two different solvents by ultrasonic assisted sol–gel method.

  • The as-synthesized material shows good optical response from UV to NIR region of the solar spectrum.

  • The good optical response along with its large BET surface area to volume ratio suggests that the synthesized material can have potential application as an absorber layer in a thin-film solar cell.

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the Central Research Facility (CRF), IIT (ISM), Dhanbad, India for FESEM, UV–VIS–NIR and BET measurements. Mr. BKR also would like to acknowledge University Grants Commission (UGC), New Delhi, India for the award of Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship (RGNF) [Award no. 2014-15-SC-JHA-60456].

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  1. Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines), Dhanbad, Jharkhand, India

    Birendra Kumar Rajwar & Shailendra Kumar Sharma

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  1. Birendra Kumar Rajwar
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  2. Shailendra Kumar Sharma
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Correspondence to Shailendra Kumar Sharma.

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Rajwar, B.K., Sharma, S.K. Solvent-dependent structural and optical properties of Cu2MSnS4 synthesized via ultrasonic-assisted sol–gel method. J Sol-Gel Sci Technol 96, 423–430 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-020-05390-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-020-05390-0

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