Temperature dependent solvothermal synthesis of Cu-Sb-S nanoparticles with tunable structural and optical properties

Abstract Copper based chalcogenide nanoparticles were synthesized by convenient solvothermal method using ethylene glycol as solvent and Polyvinylpyrrolidone as surfactant, followed by deposition of thin films using drop casting method. Here, the reactions were performed at different temperature from 200 °C to 240 °C in steps of 10 °C. Systematic investigation revealed that as temperature increases significant changes were occurring on the crystal structure, optical properties and electrical performance of the material. The influence of different temperature was responsible for the formation of pure Cu 3 SbS 4 to CuSbS 2 nanoparticles. The obtained nanopowders and deposited films were characterized by X-ray diffraction, Raman analysis, high resolution transmission electron microscope, field emission scanning electron microscope with energy dispersive spectrometer, UV–Vis–NIR diffuse reflectance spectroscopy and hall measurement. Optical and electrical studies revealed that nanoparticles were in the range of 0.88–1.45 eV with p-type conductivity, indicating their potential application as a p-type absorber layer in thin film solar cells.