A rapid molecular precursor solid-state route to crystalline Fe₂GeS₄ nanoparticles

Journal Article · Thu Apr 05 00:00:00 EDT 2018 · Materials Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matlet.2018.04.020· OSTI ID:1538572

Hwang, Po-Yu ^[1]; Berg, Dominik M. ^[2]; Liu, Mimi ^[1]; Lai, Cheng-Yu ^[1]; Radu, Daniela R. ^[3]

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1. Delaware State University, Dover, DE (United States)
2. Delaware State University, Dover, DE (United States); Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ (United States)
3. Delaware State University, Dover, DE (United States); University of Delaware, Newark, DE (United States)

Iron germanium sulfide (Fe₂GeS₄) recently emerged as a potential thin film solar photovoltaic absorber. The introduction of the third element—germanium (Ge)—viewed as a solution for overcoming multiple barriers of a photovoltaic pyrite, confers stability to Fe₂GeS₄ at elevated temperatures, typically required for accomplishing grain growth in Gen 2 thin film PV. A facile synthesis of Fe₂GeS₄ nanoparticles from molecular precursors, comprising mechanical mixing of starting materials followed by a two-hour annealing in a sulfur-rich atmosphere is presented herein. Further processing of the resulting Fe₂GeS₄ nanopowders at elevated temperatures demonstrates high thermal stability of Fe₂GeS₄ (up to 500 °C), in comparison with pyrite, which shows onset of pyrrhotite upon heating above 160 °C. Based on the secondary crystalline phases formed, here we propose a mechanism of decomposition of Fe₂GeS₄ at high temperatures. Films fabricated with Fe₂GeS₄ were further annealed and revealed that Fe₂GeS₄ withstands high temperatures in thin film.

• Research Organization: Delaware State University, Dover, DE (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE); National Science Foundation (NSF)
• Grant/Contract Number: EE0006322; 1435716; 1535876; 1719379
• OSTI ID: 1538572
• Alternate ID(s): OSTI ID: 1548463
• Journal Information: Materials Letters, Vol. 223, Issue C; ISSN 0167-577X
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
nanoparticles
colloidal processing
solar energy materials
electronic materials
Fe2Ge2S4