Synthesis and characterization of Cu3SbS4 nanoparticles for solution-based thin film solar cells

Thin films-based solar cells present several advantages over tradition vacuum based approaches, including flexible and cost-effective processing. Producing nanoparticle inks with uniform properties is a crucial step for manufacturing efficient solution-processed solar cells. The famatinite phase of copper antimony sulfide (Cu₃SbS₄) nanoparticles was synthesized using hot-injection methods. Hot-injection allows rapid burst of nucleation causing formation of highly uniform particles. Optimization of synthesis conditions led to selective formation of the famatinite phase without the presence of other phases of the Cu-Sb-S system or binary sulfides as impurities. Nanoparticles solutions had an absorption onset at approximately 0.9 eV.