International Journal of Energy Research

TECHNICAL NOTE

Improved size distribution of AgBiS₂ colloidal nanocrystals by optimized synthetic route enhances photovoltaic performance

Jae Taek Oh

Department of Chemistry and Research Institute for Convergence of Basic Sciences, Hanyang University, Seoul, South Korea

Division of Energy Technology, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), Daegu, South Korea

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Hongjoo Cho,

Hongjoo Cho

Department of Chemistry and Research Institute for Convergence of Basic Sciences, Hanyang University, Seoul, South Korea

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Sung Yong Bae,

Sung Yong Bae

Department of Chemistry and Research Institute for Convergence of Basic Sciences, Hanyang University, Seoul, South Korea

Division of Energy Technology, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), Daegu, South Korea

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Sung Jun Lim,

Sung Jun Lim

Division of Nanotechnology, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), Daegu, South Korea

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Jinhyeon Kang,

Jinhyeon Kang

Department of Chemistry, Kookmin University, Seoul, South Korea

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In Hwan Jung,

In Hwan Jung

Department of Chemistry, Kookmin University, Seoul, South Korea

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Hyosung Choi,

Corresponding Author

Hyosung Choi

[email protected]

orcid.org/0000-0003-4573-9012

Department of Chemistry and Research Institute for Convergence of Basic Sciences, Hanyang University, Seoul, South Korea

Correspondence

Hyosung Choi, Department of Chemistry and Research Institute for Convergence of Basic Sciences, Hanyang University, 222 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul 04763, South Korea.

Email: [email protected]

Younghoon Kim, Division of Energy Technology, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), 333 Techno Jungang-Daero, Hyeonpung, Daegu 42988, South Korea.

Email: [email protected]

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Younghoon Kim,

Corresponding Author

Younghoon Kim

[email protected]

Division of Energy Technology, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), Daegu, South Korea

Correspondence

Hyosung Choi, Department of Chemistry and Research Institute for Convergence of Basic Sciences, Hanyang University, 222 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul 04763, South Korea.

Email: [email protected]

Younghoon Kim, Division of Energy Technology, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), 333 Techno Jungang-Daero, Hyeonpung, Daegu 42988, South Korea.

Email: [email protected]

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Jae Taek Oh,

Jae Taek Oh

Department of Chemistry and Research Institute for Convergence of Basic Sciences, Hanyang University, Seoul, South Korea

Division of Energy Technology, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), Daegu, South Korea

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Hongjoo Cho,

Hongjoo Cho

Department of Chemistry and Research Institute for Convergence of Basic Sciences, Hanyang University, Seoul, South Korea

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Sung Yong Bae,

Sung Yong Bae

Department of Chemistry and Research Institute for Convergence of Basic Sciences, Hanyang University, Seoul, South Korea

Division of Energy Technology, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), Daegu, South Korea

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Sung Jun Lim,

Sung Jun Lim

Division of Nanotechnology, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), Daegu, South Korea

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Jinhyeon Kang,

Jinhyeon Kang

Department of Chemistry, Kookmin University, Seoul, South Korea

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In Hwan Jung,

In Hwan Jung

Department of Chemistry, Kookmin University, Seoul, South Korea

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Hyosung Choi,

Corresponding Author

Hyosung Choi

[email protected]

orcid.org/0000-0003-4573-9012

Department of Chemistry and Research Institute for Convergence of Basic Sciences, Hanyang University, Seoul, South Korea

Correspondence

Hyosung Choi, Department of Chemistry and Research Institute for Convergence of Basic Sciences, Hanyang University, 222 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul 04763, South Korea.

Email: [email protected]

Younghoon Kim, Division of Energy Technology, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), 333 Techno Jungang-Daero, Hyeonpung, Daegu 42988, South Korea.

Email: [email protected]

Search for more papers by this author

Younghoon Kim,

Corresponding Author

Younghoon Kim

[email protected]

Division of Energy Technology, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), Daegu, South Korea

Correspondence

Hyosung Choi, Department of Chemistry and Research Institute for Convergence of Basic Sciences, Hanyang University, 222 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul 04763, South Korea.

Email: [email protected]

Younghoon Kim, Division of Energy Technology, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), 333 Techno Jungang-Daero, Hyeonpung, Daegu 42988, South Korea.

Email: [email protected]

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First published: 20 July 2020

https://doi.org/10.1002/er.5695

Citations: 29

Jae Taek Oh and Hongjoo Cho contributed equally to this study.

Funding information: Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning (KETEP) and the Ministry of Trade, Industry & Energy (MOTIE) of the Republic of Korea, Grant/Award Number: 20173010013200; National Research Foundation of Korea, Grant/Award Number: NRF-2018R1C1B6001015; DGIST R&D Programs of the Ministry of Science, ICT & Future Planning of Korea, Grant/Award Number: 20-ET-08

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Summary

Ternary silver bismuth sulfide (AgBiS₂) colloidal nanocrystals (NCs) have been recognized as a photovoltaic absorber for environmentally-friendly and low-temperature-processed thin film solar cells. However, previous synthetic methods involving hot injection of sulfur precursors into metal oleate precursor solutions do not provide a balance between nucleation and growth, leading to AgBiS₂ NCs with broad size distributions. Here, we demonstrate the modified synthetic route that size distribution of AgBiS₂ NCs can be improved by pre-adding the non-coordinating 1-octadecene (ODE) solvent into metal precursor solutions, leading to controlled concentration of coordinating oleic acid with improved hot-injection synthetic conditions. The addition of ODE as a non-coordinating solvent to metal precursor/oleic acid solution significantly suppresses variations in the concentration of coordinating oleic acid after injection of the sulfur precursor solution, leading to a homogenous reaction between the metal and sulfur precursors. For photovoltaic devices fabricated using the resultant AgBiS₂ NCs, the champion device shows power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 5.94% with an open-circuit voltage (V_OC) of 0.52 V. This performance is better than that a control device (PCE of 5.50% and V_OC of 0.49 V) because of the reduced energetic disorder and band tail broadening originating from the uniformly-sized AgBiS₂ NCs.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

The authors declare no potential conflict of interest.

Supporting Information

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Improved size distribution of AgBiS₂ colloidal nanocrystals by optimized synthetic route enhances photovoltaic performance

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Improved size distribution of AgBiS2 colloidal nanocrystals by optimized synthetic route enhances photovoltaic performance

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Improved size distribution of AgBiS₂ colloidal nanocrystals by optimized synthetic route enhances photovoltaic performance