CuInSe₂ nano-crystallite reaction kinetics using solid state reaction from Cu₂Se and In₂Se₃ powders

The reaction mechanism and CuInSe₂ formation kinetics using a solid state reaction from Cu₂Se and In₂Se₃ powders synthesized using a heating up process were investigated using X-ray diffractomy (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). It was observed that the CuInSe₂ phase increased gradually, accompanied with a decrease in γ-In₂Se₃ with no intermediate phase as the calcination temperature and soaking time were increased. The reaction kinetics was analyzed using the Avrami and polynomial kinetic model, suggesting that CuInSe₂ formation from Cu₂Se and In ₂Se₃ powders follows a diffusion-controlled reaction with an apparent activation energy of about 122.5-182.3 kJ/mol. Cu₂Se and In₂Se₃ phases react and directly transform into CIS without the occurrence of any intermediate phase and the size of the newly formed CuInSe₂ crystallites was close to that of the Cu₂Se reactant particle based on the TEM results, which indicated that the solid reaction kinetics may be dominated by the diffusion of In³⁺ ions.