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ETD RECORD
Synthesis of CuInS2 (copper indium disulfide) chalcopyrite nanoparticles via thermal- and photo-decomposition of single source precursors
Citation
Nairn, Justin J.. (2008). Synthesis of CuInS2 (copper indium disulfide) chalcopyrite nanoparticles via thermal- and photo-decomposition of single source precursors. Theses and Dissertations Collection, University of Idaho Library Digital Collections. https://www.lib.uidaho.edu/digital/etd/items/etd_338.html
- Title:
- Synthesis of CuInS2 (copper indium disulfide) chalcopyrite nanoparticles via thermal- and photo-decomposition of single source precursors
- Author:
- Nairn, Justin J.
- Date:
- 2008
- Keywords:
- Chalcopyrite--Microstructure--Synthesis
- Program:
- Chemistry
- Abstract:
- Ultrafine CuInS{esc}b2{esc}s chalcopyrite nanoparticles were synthesized via thermal- and photo-decomposition of single source precursors with the general formula [(R{esc}b3{esc}sP){esc}b2{esc}sCuIn(SR){esc}b4{esc}s]. By developing a range of single source precursors that decompose at lower temperatures (>160{deg}C) we were able to access smaller (>2.5 nm diameter) nanoparticle sizes using solvo-thermal synthesis. Furthermore, we report the first account of the use of light irradiation to generate ternary semi-conducting nanoparticles. Using light as the decomposition agent gives different nanoparticle growth dynamics which leads to the slow evolution of ultrafine chalcopyrite nanoparticles. Thus this photolysis technique gives unprecedented control over nanoparticle sizes from the molecular level to greater than 3.5 nm in diameter. UV-vis absorption, {esc}p1{esc}sH and {esc}p31{esc}sP{lcub}{esc}p1{esc}sH{rcub} NMR, and mass spectrometry were used to characterize the decomposition of the precursors and nanoparticle formation. The nanoparticles were characterized by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), scanning electron microscopy energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, powder and single crystal X-ray diffraction (XRD), electron diffraction, inductively coupled plasma analysis, UV-vis absorption spectroscopy, and photoluminescence spectroscopy. The nanoparticles have a wurzite-type crystal structure and display a hypsochromic shift in their emission band due to quantum confinement effects. This was consistent with the size of the nanocrystals as indicated in the HRTEM and XRD analyses. Theorists have predicted solar cells based on quantum dot semi-conducting photo-absorbing nanomaterials could have extraordinarily high efficiencies of up to ~63.2%. A rudimentary homo-junction solar cell constructed employing our ultrafine photolytically generated nanoparticles demonstrated reasonable photo-conversion efficiencies of 0.006%.
- Description:
- Thesis (Ph. D., Chemistry)--University of Idaho, December 2008.
- Major Professor:
- Thomas Bitterwolf and Ray von Wandruszka.
- Defense Date:
- December 2008.
- Type:
- Text
- Format Original:
- xvi, 189 leaves :col. ill. ;29 cm.
- Format:
- record
Rights
- Rights:
- In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted. For more information, please contact University of Idaho Library Special Collections and Archives Department at libspec@uidaho.edu.
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