Benameur K, Mouchaal Y, Benchouk K, Laafer A, Barille R. Syntheses and Characterizations of CuIn
1-xZn
xSe
2 Chalcopyrite Nanoparticles.
MATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022;
15:1436. [PMID:
35207977 PMCID:
PMC8878834 DOI:
10.3390/ma15041436]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2021] [Revised: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
CuIn1-xZnxSe2 powders with various atomic percentages (x = 0, 0.05, 0.11, 0.16 and 0.21) were synthesized with the solvothermal method using metal chlorides and ethylendiamine as sources of precursors and a solvent, respectively. The experiment aims to investigate the effect of atomic percentages of Znx compounds on the structural and optical properties of CuIn1-xZnxSe2 in order to improve future technological applications based on this material. The powders' chalcopyrite phases were identified by X-ray diffraction. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis revealed the presence of Cu, In, Zn and Se with the expected atomic ratio of Zn/(In + Zn). Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy analysis showed that the powders have large-scale desert rose-like structures. The nanopowders' optical study by UV-visible spectrophotometry showed that the CuIn1-xZnxSe2 energy gap values increase with the molar fraction of Znx. A change from 1.15 to 1.4 eV was observed.
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