Photoelectrochemical characterization of n-type and p-type thin-film nanocrystalline Cu2ZnSnSe4 photocathodes

Pay Yu Lee, Sheng Po Chang, Shoou Jinn Chang

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

27 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Copper-zinc-tin-selenide (Cu2ZnSnSe4, CZTSe) nanocrystals that do not contain any toxic elements and are 20-25 nm in size are synthesized through a process involving reactions of the elemental sources in a polyetheramine solution. By controlling the Zn/Sn ratio, both n-type and p-type CZTSe nanocrystals could be synthesized. The photoelectrochemical (PEC) properties of electrodes formed using inks containing n-type and p-type CZTSe nanocrystals are compared. An aqueous solution of NaCl is used as the electrolyte. A PEC cell based on an n-type CZTSe photoanode exhibits an efficiency, ηc, of 2.81%, while a p-type cell exhibits ηc of 0.42%. The flat band potentials of the n-type and p-type CZTSe photoanodes in 1 M NaCl are -0.55 and 0.48 V, respectively. Finally, the net carrier concentrations of the n-type and p-type CZTSe photoanodes, calculated from their Mott-Schottky plots, are 3.38 × 1018 and 2.73 × 1018 cm-3, respectively.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)297-303
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of Environmental Chemical Engineering
Volume3
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2015 Mar

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Chemical Engineering (miscellaneous)
  • Waste Management and Disposal
  • Pollution
  • Process Chemistry and Technology

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