Effect of annealing atmosphere on quaternary chalcogenide-based counter electrodes in dye-sensitized solar cell performance: synthesis of Cu2FeSnS4 and Cu2CdSnS4 nanoparticles by thermal decomposition process

Straightforward synthesis of stoichiometrically controlled quaternary chalcogenide nanoparticles is a challenge. Annealing atmosphere has effect on morphology, elemental composition, electrical properties, electrochemical catalytic activity of the CFTS and CCdTS films.

Penternary chalcogenides nanocrystals as catalytic materials for efficient counter electrodes in dye-synthesized solar cells

The penternary chalcogenides Cu₂CoSn(SeS)₄ and Cu₂ZnSn(SeS)₄ were successfully synthesized by hot-injection method, and employed as a catalytic materials for efficient counter electrodes in dye-synthesized solar cells (DSSCs). The structural, compositional, morphological and optical properties of these pentenary semiconductors were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy-dispersive spectrometer (EDS) and ultraviolet-visible (UV–Vis) spectroscopy. The Cu₂CoSn(SeS)₄ and Cu₂ZnSn(SeS)₄ nanocrystals had a single crystalline, kesterite phase, adequate stoichiometric ratio, 18–25 nm particle sizes which are forming nanospheres, and band gap energy of 1.18 and 1.45 eV, respectively. Furthermore, the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and cyclic voltammograms indicated that Cu₂CoSn(SeS)₄ nanocrystals as counter electrodes exhibited better electrocatalytic activity for the reduction of iodine/iodide electrolyte than that of Cu₂ZnSn(SeS)₄ nanocrystals and conventional platinum (Pt). The photovoltaic results demonstrated that DSSC with a Cu₂CoSn(SeS)₄ nanocrystals-based counter electrode achieved the best efficiency of 6.47%, which is higher than the same photoanode employing a Cu₂ZnSn(SeS)₄ nanocrystals (3.18%) and Pt (5.41%) counter electrodes. These promising results highlight the potential application of penternary chalcogen Cu₂CoSn(SeS)₄ nanocrystals in low-cost, high-efficiency, Pt-free DSSCs.

Photo-electrochemical properties and electronic band structure of kesterite copper chalcogenide Cu2–II–Sn–S4 (II = Fe, Co, Ni) thin films

Kesterite CFTS, CCTS and CNTS thin films have good electrocatalytic behavior and improved photoelectrochemical responses with respect to a ZnO nanorod counter electrode.

Colloidal synthesis of wurtz-stannite Cu2CdGeS4nanocrystals with high catalytic activity toward iodine redox couples in dye-sensitized solar cells

Wurtz-stannite Cu₂CdGeS₄nanocrystals were synthesizedviaa facile hot-injection method at a low temperature.

Solution-processed Cu2XSnS4 (X = Fe, Co, Ni) photo-electrochemical and thin film solar cells on vertically grown ZnO nanorod arrays

Devices with ITO/ZnO/ZnS/CFTS/Au, ITO/ZnO/ZnS/CCTS/Au and ITO/ZnO/ZnS/CNTS/Au architectures exhibited PCE values of 2.73, 3.23 and 2.71% and displayed good electrocatalytic behaviors.

The AACVD of Cu2FeSn(SxSe1−x)4: potential environmentally benign solar cell materials

Films of Cu₂FeSn(S_xSe_1−x) have been deposited by aerosol assisted chemical vapour deposition using mixtures of molecular precursors.

Facile water-based spray pyrolysis of earth-abundant Cu2FeSnS4 thin films as an efficient counter electrode in dye-sensitized solar cells

A novel approach to produce earth-abundant Cu2FeSnS4 (CFTS) thin film using spray pyrolysis of nontoxic aqueous precursors followed by sulfurization is reported. The CFTS phase formation was confirmed by both Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction techniques. Hall measurements of these films reveal p-type conductivity with good charge carrier density and mobilities appropriate for solar harvesting devices. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the electrical properties of solution-processed Cu2FeSnS4 thin films estimated using Hall measurements. Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) fabricated with CFTS thin film as a photocathode in iodine/iodide electrolyte exhibit good power conversion efficiency, 8.03%, indicating that CFTS would be a promising cheaper alternative to replace Pt as a counter electrode in DSSCs.