Download or read book Synthesis and Characterization of Copper Chalcogenide Nanoparticles and Their Use in Solution Processed Photovoltaics written by Pierre Mubiayi Kalenga and published by . This book was released on 2015 with total page 312 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Synthesis and Characterization of Copper Based Ternary Metal Chalcogenides written by Jose Javier Sanchez Rodriguez and published by . This book was released on 2023 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The current climate crisis is a great concern to humankind due to the devastating effects of the consistent rise of anthropogenic greenhouse gases. A viable alternative to reducing greenhouse gas emissions is the development of solar harvesting technologies. The need to develop new semiconductor materials with more capacity to absorb light and convert it into electricity is rapidly growing. A promising class of materials for this purpose are copper-based ternary chalcogenides such as CuCrS2, CuSb1-xBixS2, and Cu3VS4.The synthesis and characterization of copper-based ternary chalcogenides nanocrystals (NCs) have gained popularity in the scientific community due to their novel, physical, chemical, optical, electronic, magnetic, and mechanical properties. NCs can be precursors to the next-generation nanoparticle-based thin film solar cells. This generation of thin film solar cells is advantageous in terms of the compounding benefits. Materials in the forms of NCs offer size, and morphology-dependent properties, high absorption coefficients, and tunable bandgaps. Nanoparticle-based thin film solar cells use very thin layers of material, lowering their production cost while making the systems flexible, more efficient, and compatible with new and existing infrastructure.This dissertation addresses several challenging issues and realizes the successful fabrication of novel CuCrS2, CuSb1-xBixS2 (x=1, 0.18), and Cu3VS4 NCs-based thin films. These systems were synthesized using two different thermal decomposition methods: heat-up (HU) and hot-injection (HI). This dissertation presents a detailed study involving the synthesis and characterization of the above-mentioned semiconductors by applying the developed nano-to-thin film approach. Their optical and electrical properties were explored, and their respective optical bandgaps were determined using UV-vis and electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS). The ability of the fabricated thin films to generate a photocurrent under sunlight irradiation was explored, reporting their responsivities and current conversion efficiencies.

Download or read book Synthesis and Characterization of Copper Manoparticles and Copper polymer Nanocomposites for Plasmonic Photovoltaic Applications written by Sabastine C. Ezugwu and published by . This book was released on 2012 with total page 228 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Deposition techniques for the fabrication of metal nanostructures influence their morphological properties, which in turn control their optical behavior. Here, copper nanoparticles (np-Cu's) were grown using a deposition system that was specifically set up during this work, and is based on a radio frequency (RF) sputtering source that can operate at high temperature and under bias voltage. The effect of deposition conditions (RF power, chamber pressure and substrate bias voltage) on RF sputtered np-Cu's using RF sputtering has been studied. The study included a comparison between the morphological and optical properties of as-grown np-Cu's and thermally treated samples. The characterization of np-Cu's is carried out by atomic force microscopy, UV-visible transmission spectrophotometry, scanning electron microscopy and scanning near field optical microscopy (SNOM) techniques. The results of the experiment showed that the combined effects of low RF power (25 W - 75 W), high chamber pressure (17 Pa - 23 Pa) and substrate DC bias voltage (300 V - 400 V) are required for obtaining dispersed np-Cu's. Under these conditions, copper nanoparticles grow by aggregation of initial island nuclei due to a reduction in sputtering rate. Significantly, higher dispersed np-Cu's are obtained when a set of samples grown at 25 W and 33 W RF power is subjected to thermal treatment in an oxygen-free glove box. Optical properties of np-Cu's show improvement in the visible region (535nm - 580 nm) related to transmission enhancement in as-deposited samples and plasmonic enhancement in thermally treated ones. Furthermore, an approach to determine the position of the np-Cu induced scattered wave was explored using SNOM (x, z) measurements. In bare np- Cu's the path length of the scattered wave is further from the np surface, measured orthogonally. We demonstrated experimentally a method that uses an SiO2 thin film as a spacer to broaden the scattered wave up to 500 nm from the np-Cu/SiO2 composite surface. The study provides an improved insight that helps to understand the physical mechanisms that may hinder the expected performance in plasmonic solar cells. With these results, the potential of incorporating np-Cu's in plasmonic thin film solar cell structures looks very promising.

Download or read book Synthesis and Characterization of Copper Sulfate Nanoparticles for Solar Cell Application written by and published by . This book was released on 2009 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Synthesis and characterization of copper sulfate nanoparticles for solar cell application.

Download or read book Photovoltaics Beyond Silicon written by Senthilarasu Sundaram and published by Elsevier. This book was released on 2024-06-28 with total page 819 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Photovoltaics Beyond Silicon: Innovative Materials, Sustainable Processing Technologies, and Novel Device Structures presents the latest innovations in materials, processing and devices to produce electricity via advanced, sustainable photovoltaics technologies. The book provides an overview of the novel materials and device architectures that have been developed to optimize energy conversion efficiencies and minimize environmental impacts. Advances in technologies for harnessing solar energy are extensively discussed, with topics including materials processing, device fabrication, sustainability of materials and manufacturing, and the current state-of-the-art. Contributions from leading international experts discuss the applications, challenges and future prospects of research in this increasingly vital field, providing a valuable resource for students and researchers working in this area. Presents a comprehensive overview and detailed discussion of solar energy technology options for sustainable energy conversion Provides an understanding of the environmental challenges to be overcome and discusses the importance of efficient materials utilization for clean energy Looks at how to design materials processing and optimize device fabrication, including metrics such as power-to-weight ratio, effectiveness at EOL compared to BOL, life-cycle analysis

Download or read book Synthesis and Characterization of Earth Abundant and Nontoxic Metal Chalcogenides Produced Via Aerosol Spray Pyrolysis for Photovoltaic Applications written by Patrick John Davis and published by . This book was released on 2013 with total page 66 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A novel synthesis technique for the production of copper zinc tin sulfide (CZTS) nanocrystals has been developed using aerosol spray pyrolysis. CZTS is a quaternary semiconducting material that shows promise as a replacement to common semiconductors such as CdTe and CIGS for use in photovoltaic devices. CIGS is currently being commercialized in the photovoltaic industry, but rare and expensive indium and gallium components threaten its long term viability. CZTS looks to be one of the best alternatives to CIGS with all earth abundant and non-toxic materials and recent impressive gains in efficiency. A number of synthesis techniques have been thoroughly studied and detailed previously. In our novel approach, we synthesis single phase nanocrystals, starting with zinc, copper, and tin diethyldithiocarbamate precursors in a toluene solvent. The precursor solution is aerosolized using an ultrasonic nebulizer wherein the droplets are vacuumed through a tube furnace and nucleation occurs. We reproducibly synthesize kesterite, Cu2ZnSnS4, nanocrystals. This technique continuously converts the chemical precursor into high-purity nanopowder with a production rate of ~50 mg/hour for an un-optimized, lab-scale reactor. Using the same precursor chemistry, we have also been able to deposit high-quality CZTS thin films directly onto Mo-coated Swiss glass substrates using the aerosol spray pyrolysis technique. A thorough discussion of the current photovoltaic field, the processing parameters and challenges of nanocrystal and thin film production, and the experimental results will be presented. Characterization via Raman spectroscopy, EDS, XRD, TEM and XPS will be offered along with future recommendations and considerations.

Download or read book Solar Energy Conversion and Storage written by Suresh C. Ameta and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 2015-11-05 with total page 280 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Solar Energy Conversion and Storage: Photochemical Modes showcases the latest advances in solar cell technology while offering valuable insight into the future of solar energy conversion and storage. Focusing on photochemical methods of converting and/or storing light energy in the form of electrical or chemical energy, the book:Describes various t

Download or read book Sustainable Materials and Green Processing for Energy Conversion written by Kuan Yew Cheong and published by Elsevier. This book was released on 2021-10-01 with total page 506 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Sustainable Materials and Green Processing for Energy Conversion provides a concise reference on green processing and synthesis of materials required for the next generation of devices used in renewable energy conversion and storage. The book covers the processing of bio-organic materials, environmentally-friendly organic and inorganic sources of materials, synthetic green chemistry, bioresorbable and transient properties of functional materials, and the concept of sustainable material design. The book features chapters by worldwide experts and is an important reference for students, researchers, and engineers interested in gaining extensive knowledge concerning green processing of sustainable, green functional materials for next generation energy devices. Additionally, functional materials used in energy devices must also be able to degrade and decompose with minimum energy after being disposed of at their end-of-life. Environmental pollution is one of the global crises that endangers the life cycles of living things. There are multiple root causes of this pollution, including industrialization that demands a huge supply of raw materials for the production of products related to meeting the demands of the Internet-of-Things. As a result, improvement of material and product life cycles by incorporation of green, sustainable principles is essential to address this challenging issue. Offers a resourceful reference for readers interested in green processing of environmentally-friendly and sustainable materials for energy conversion and storage devices Focuses on designing of materials through green-processing concepts Highlights challenges and opportunities in green processing of renewable materials for energy devices

Download or read book Nanocatalysis written by Vivek Polshettiwar and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2013-09-06 with total page 670 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Exhibiting both homogeneous and heterogeneous catalytic properties, nanocatalysts allow for rapid and selective chemical transformations, with the benefits of excellent product yield and ease of catalyst separation and recovery. This book reviews the catalytic performance and the synthesis and characterization of nanocatalysts, examining the current state of the art and pointing the way towards new avenues of research. Moreover, the authors discuss new and emerging applications of nanocatalysts and nanocatalysis, from pharmaceuticals to fine chemicals to renewable energy to biotransformations. Nanocatalysis features contributions from leading research groups around the world. These contributions reflect a thorough review of the current literature as well as the authors’ first-hand experience designing and synthesizing nanocatalysts and developing new applications for them. The book’s nineteen chapters offer a broad perspective, covering: Nanocatalysis for carbon-carbon and carbon-heteroatom coupling reactions Nanocatalysis for various organic transformations in fine chemical synthesis Nanocatalysis for oxidation, hydrogenation, and other related reactions Nanomaterial-based photocatalysis and biocatalysis Nanocatalysts to produce non-conventional energy such as hydrogen and biofuels Nanocatalysts and nano-biocatalysts in the chemical industry Readers will also learn about the latest spectroscopic and microscopy tools used in advanced characterization methods that shed new light on nanocatalysts and nanocatalysis. Moreover, the authors offer expert advice to help readers develop strategies to improve catalytic performance. Summarizing and reviewing all the most important advances in nanocatalysis over the last two decades, this book explains the many advantages of nanocatalysts over conventional homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts, providing the information and guidance needed for designing green, sustainable catalytic processes.

Download or read book Low Voltage Electrophoretic Deposition of Nanocrystal Based Copper Chalcogenide Thin Films written by Andrew Dillon and published by . This book was released on 2018 with total page 192 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Photovoltaic (PV) devices are a clean and renewable source of energy, yet their widespread adoption is hindered by their cost, much of which is dominated by fabrication of the devices themselves. Current methods for PV device fabrication are slow and energy intensive. While much work has been done to engineer solution-processable precursors to thin-film electronic materials, particularly for PV applications, relatively little has been done in developing scalable methods for depositing these "inks". In this work, electrophoretic deposition (EPD) of colloidal nanocrystals (NCs) is explored as a method for the fabrication of semiconducting thin films. For photovoltaic applications, a low process voltage is highly desirable to avoid damaging the accreting semiconductor. Herein is reported a continuous flow reactor design that can operate at reduced voltage compared to a traditional batch reactor while preserving the electrophoretic velocity of the NCs by utilizing narrow electrode spacing and removing film thickness limitations by continuously flowing the colloidal dispersion of NCs. Through modeling and experiment, the process parameters necessary to completely utilize the NCs in the feed solution, thereby achieving nearly 100% atom economy in the deposition process, are demonstrated. For electrophoretic deposition (EPD) to achieve its potential as a method for assembling functional semiconductors, however, it is necessary to understand both what governs the threshold voltage for deposition and how to reduce that threshold. Post-synthetic modification of the surface chemistry of all-inorganic copper-zinc-tin-sulfide (CZTS) nanocrystals (NCs) enables EPD at voltages below 2V--a six-fold or greater improvement over previous examples of non-oxide semiconductors. The chemical exchange of the original surfactant-based NC-surface ligands with selenide ions yields essentially bare, highly surface-charged NCs. Thus, both the electrophoretic mobility and electrochemical reactivity of these particles are increased, favoring deposition, resulting in thick, uniform and crack-free films without sintering from stable, well-dispersed colloidal starting materials. In-situ imaging of the reactor during deposition provides a quantitative measure of the electric field in the bulk of the reactor; this, coupled with chronoamperometry, reveals the fundamental reaction and mass transport limitations of low-voltage EPD, and a crossover from mass transport-limited to reaction rate-limited EPD is observed. In order to fully realize an all-solution-processed PV device, every aspect of the device must be fabricated by solution-processing methods. Consequently, solution-processed transparent conductors are also studied. 2D transition metal carbides and nitrides, known collectively as MXenes, are highly conductive and water-dispersible, suggesting their utility as solution-assembled optoelectronic and plasmonic materials. Here, 2D Ti3C2 is assembled from solution into optical quality, nanometers-thin films that, at 6500 Siemens-per-centimeter, surpass the conductivity of other solution-processed 2D materials due to their metal-like free-electron densities. Simultaneously they transmit >97% of visible light per-nanometer-thickness, constituting the first example of a new class of solution-processed, carbide-based 2D optoelectronic materials.

Download or read book Synthesis and Modification of Nanostructured Thin Films written by Ion N. Mihailescu and published by MDPI. This book was released on 2020-03-17 with total page 276 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Special Issue “Synthesis and Modification of Nanostructured Thin Films” highlights the recent progress in thin film synthesis/modification and characterization. New methods are reviewed for the synthesis and/or modification of thin films based on laser, magnetron, chemical, and other techniques. The obtained thin nanostructures are characterized by complex and complementary techniques. We think that most of proposed methods can be directly applied in production, but some others still need further elaboration for long-term prospective applications in lasers, optics, materials, electronics, informatics, telecommunications, biology, medicine, and probably many other domains. The Guest Editor and the MDPI staff are therefore pleased to offer this Special Issue to interested readers, including graduate and PhD students as well as postdoctoral researchers, but also to the entire community interested in the field of nanomaterials. We share the conviction that this can serve as a useful tool for updating the literature, but also to aid in the conception of new production and/or research programs. There is plenty of room for further dedicated R&D advances based on new instruments and materials under development.

Download or read book Handbook of Smart Materials in Analytical Chemistry written by Miguel de la Guardia and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2019-01-22 with total page 931 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A comprehensive guide to smart materials and how they are used in sample preparation, analytical processes, and applications This comprehensive, two-volume handbook provides detailed information on the present state of new materials tailored for selective sample preparation and the legal frame and environmental side effects of the use of smart materials for sample preparation in analytical chemistry, as well as their use in the analytical processes and applications. It covers both methodological and applied analytical aspects, relating to the development and application of new materials for solid-phase extraction (SPE) and solid-phase microextraction (SPME), their use in the different steps and techniques of the analytical process, and their application in specific fields such as water, food, air, pharmaceuticals, clinical sciences and forensics. Every chapter in Handbook of Smart Materials in Analytical Chemistry is written by experts in the field to provide a comprehensive picture of the present state of this key area of analytical sciences and to summarize current applications and research literature in a critical way. Volume 1 covers New Materials for Sample Preparation and Analysis. Volume 2 handles Analytical Processes and Applications. Focuses on the development and applications of smart materials in analytical chemistry Covers both, methodological and applied analytical aspects, for the development of new materials and their use in the different steps and techniques of the analytical process and their application in specific fields Features applications in key areas including water, air, environment, pharma, food, forensic, and clinical Presents the available tools for the use of new materials suitable to aid recognition process to the sample preparation and analysis A key resource for analytical chemists, applied laboratories, and instrument companies Handbook of Smart Materials in Analytical Chemistry, 2V Set is an excellent reference book for specialists and advanced students in the areas of analytical chemistry, including both research and application environments.

Download or read book Copper Zinc Tin Sulfide Based Thin Film Solar Cells written by Kentaro Ito and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2015-02-23 with total page 449 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Beginning with an overview and historical background of Copper Zinc Tin Sulphide (CZTS) technology, subsequent chapters cover properties of CZTS thin films, different preparation methods of CZTS thin films, a comparative study of CZTS and CIGS solar cell, computational approach, and future applications of CZTS thin film solar modules to both ground-mount and rooftop installation. The semiconducting compound (CZTS) is made up earth-abundant, low-cost and non-toxic elements, which make it an ideal candidate to replace Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGS) and CdTe solar cells which face material scarcity and toxicity issues. The device performance of CZTS-based thin film solar cells has been steadily improving over the past 20 years, and they have now reached near commercial efficiency levels (10%). These achievements prove that CZTS-based solar cells have the potential to be used for large-scale deployment of photovoltaics. With contributions from leading researchers from academia and industry, many of these authors have contributed to the improvement of its efficiency, and have rich experience in preparing a variety of semiconducting thin films for solar cells.

Download or read book Nanostructured Materials for Type III Photovoltaics written by Peter Skabara and published by Royal Society of Chemistry. This book was released on 2017-11-08 with total page 532 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Materials for type III solar cells have branched into a series of generic groups. These include organic ‘small molecule’ and polymer conjugated structures, fullerenes, quantum dots, copper indium gallium selenide nanocrystal films, dyes/TiO2 for Grätzel cells, hybrid organic/inorganic composites and perovskites. Whilst the power conversion efficiencies of organic solar cells are modest compared to other type III photovoltaic materials, plastic semiconductors provide a cheap route to manufacture through solution processing and offer flexible devices. However, other types of materials are proving to be compatible with this type of processing whilst providing higher device efficiencies. As a result, the field is experiencing healthy competition between technologies that is pushing progress at a fast rate. In particular, perovskite solar cells have emerged very recently as a highly disruptive technology with power conversion efficiencies now over 20%. Perovskite cells, however, still have to address stability and environmental issues. With such a diverse range of materials, it is timely to capture the different technologies into a single volume of work. This book will give a collective insight into the different roles that nanostructured materials play in type III solar cells. This will be an essential text for those working with any of the devices highlighted above, providing a fundamental understanding and appreciation of the potential and challenges associated with each of these technologies.

Download or read book Colloidal Quantum Dot Optoelectronics and Photovoltaics written by Gerasimos Konstantatos and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2013-11-07 with total page 329 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Captures the most up-to-date research in the field, written in an accessible style by the world's leading experts.

Download or read book Chalcogenide Based Nanomaterials as Photocatalysts written by Mohammad Mansoob Khan and published by Elsevier. This book was released on 2021-04-07 with total page 378 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Chalcogenide-Based Nanomaterials as Photocatalysts deals with the different types of chalcogenide-based photocatalytic reactions, covering the fundamental concepts of photocatalytic reactions involving chalcogenides for a range of energy and environmental applications. Sections focus on nanostructure control, synthesis methods, activity enhancement strategies, environmental applications, and perspectives of chalcogenide-based nanomaterials. The book offers guidelines for designing new chalcogenide-based nanoscale photocatalysts at low cost and high efficiency for efficient utilization of solar energy in the areas of energy production and environment remediation. Provides information on the development of novel chalcogenide-based nanomaterials Outlines the fundamentals of chalcogenides-based photocatalysis Includes techniques for heterogeneous catalysis based on chalcogenide-based nanomaterials

Download or read book Applications of Chalcogenides S Se and Te written by Gurinder Kaur Ahluwalia and published by Springer. This book was released on 2018-06-23 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book introduces readers to a wide range of applications for elements in Group 16 of the periodic table, such as, optical fibers for communication and sensing, X-ray imaging, electrochemical sensors, data storage devices, biomedical applications, photovoltaics and IR detectors, the rationale for these uses, the future scope of their applications, and expected improvements to existing technologies. Following an introductory section, the book is broadly divided into three parts—dealing with Sulfur, Selenium, and Tellurium. The sections cover the basic structure of the elements and their compounds in bulk and nanostructured forms; properties that make these useful for various applications, followed by applications and commercial products. As the global technology revolution necessitates the search for new materials and more efficient devices in the electronics and semiconductor industry, Applications of Chalcogenides: S, Se, and Te is an ideal book for a wide range of readers in industry, government and academic research facilities looking beyond silicon for materials used in the electronic and optoelectronic industry as well as biomedical applications.