Key Laboratory of Materials Physics and Anhui Key Laboratory of Nanomaterials and Technology, Institute of Solid State Physics, and Key Laboratory of New Thin Film Solar Cells, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei 230031, P. R. China.
Sci Rep. 2013;3:2733. doi: 10.1038/srep02733.
Cu2ZnSn(S(1-x)Se(x))4 nanocrystals are an emerging family of functional materials with huge potential of industrial applications, however, it is an extremely challenging task to synthesize Cu2ZnSn(S(1-x)Se(x))4 nanocrystals with both tunable energy band and phase purity. Here we show that a green and economic route could be designed for the synthesis of Cu2ZnSn(S(1-x)Se(x))4 nanocrystals with bandgap tunable in the range of 1.5-1.12 eV. Consequently, conduction band edge shifted from -3.9 eV to -4.61 eV (relative to vacuum energy) is realized. The phase purity of Cu2ZnSn(S(1-x)Se(x))4 nanocrystals is substantiated with in-depth combined optical and structural characterizations. Electrocatalytic and thermoelectric performances of Cu2ZnSn(S(1-x)Se(x))4 nanocrystals verify their superior activity to replace noble metal Pt and materials containing heavy metals. This green and economic route will promote large-scale application of Cu2ZnSn(S(1-x)Se(x))4 nanocrystals as solar cell materials, electrocatalysts, and thermoelectric materials.
铜锌锡硫硒（Cu2ZnSn(S(1-x)Se(x))4）纳米晶是一类新兴的功能材料，具有巨大的工业应用潜力，然而，合成具有可调能带和相纯度的 Cu2ZnSn(S(1-x)Se(x))4 纳米晶是一项极具挑战性的任务。在这里，我们展示了一种绿色且经济的方法，可以合成能带可调范围为 1.5-1.12 eV 的 Cu2ZnSn(S(1-x)Se(x))4 纳米晶。因此，实现了导带边缘从-3.9 eV 到-4.61 eV（相对于真空能级）的移动。通过深入的光学和结构特性分析，证实了 Cu2ZnSn(S(1-x)Se(x))4 纳米晶的相纯度。Cu2ZnSn(S(1-x)Se(x))4 纳米晶的电催化和热电性能证明了它们具有替代贵金属 Pt 和含重金属材料的优异活性。这种绿色且经济的方法将促进 Cu2ZnSn(S(1-x)Se(x))4 纳米晶作为太阳能电池材料、电催化剂和热电材料的大规模应用。
