Structural and optical characterizations of Cu2SnS3 (CTS) nanoparticles synthesized by one-step green hydrothermal route

Abstract In this study, nanoparticles of Cu2SnS3 (CTS) have been synthesized by a simple one-step hydrothermal route without annealing. Metal chlorides and sodium sulphide precursors were dissolved in green solvent (water) and maintained at 230 °C for 24 h in a laboratory scale autoclave. Structural, morphological and optical characterization of synthesized CTS nanoparticles has been performed by Energy Dispersive Spectrometry (EDS), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Raman Spectroscopy, Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and UV–vis-NIR Spectroscopy. The results appear to confirm the formation of pure and quasi-stoichiometric cubic CTS nanoparticles. No secondary phases have been detected. The average size of the synthesized nanoparticles is estimated to be about 30 nm. From the absorption measurements, the optical band gap energy of the CTS nanoparticles was estimated to be 1.4 eV. This is very close to the optimal value required for an absorber material in photovoltaic (PV) solar energy conversion. In order to improve the understanding of the formation mechanism of CTS nanoparticles, the precipitate recovered prior to the hydrothermal reaction was analysed by EDS and XRD. The obtained results suggest that the formation of CTS nanoparticles takes place in two stages. Firstly, it is initiated from the formation of precipitates of Cu2S, CuS and SnS binary compounds in the starting precursors solution prior to the hydrothermal reaction and thereafter it is completed under hydrothermal conditions. This study shows the feasibility of synthesizing CTS nanoparticles with abundant elements using an environmentally-friendly and low cost process.