Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, Vol.94, No.1, 8-11, 2010
A non-vacuum process for preparing nanocrystalline CuIn1-xGaxSe2 materials involving an open-air solvothermal reaction
A non-vacuum, two-step process has been used to prepare a series of nanocrystalline CuIn1-xGaxSe2 (x = 0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1) materials. An open-air solvothermal preparation in triethylenetetramine solvent was followed by annealing at 500 degrees C in a nitrogen atmosphere for 20 min. All materials have mixed clustered plate, spherical particle, and nanorod morphologies with the smallest particle diameters ranging between 20 and 40 nm. Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirm that indium/gallium ratio control is possible over a wide range. The solvothermal reaction step yields a mixture of chalcopyrite and Cu2-xSe. This is converted to pure chalcopyrite product by annealing at 500 degrees C. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.