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Role of phosphine free solvents in structural and morphological properties of CuInSe2 nanoparticles

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Abstract

Copper indium di selenide (CuInSe2) nanoparticles were synthesized using a facile colloidal non-phosphine solvent strategy. Mixture of oleylamine (OLAM), oleic acid (OLA), 1-octadecene (1-ODE) with different proportions were employed as solvents and as well as capping agents. Influence of these solvents on the structure and morphological properties of the synthesized CuInSe2 NPs was analysed. It was found that the solvents considerably play important role on the final morphology of the nanoparticles. OLAM assisted synthesis of CuInSe2 nanoparticles results nanoplate like morphology whereas replacing certain volume of OLAM by OLA and 1-ODE provide a bunch of hierarchical structures. The optical bandgap of the synthesized nanoparticles vary with the nature of the solvents. XRD analysis of the synthesized nanoparticles confirms the presence of chalcopyrite structure. Raman analysis shows the appearance of peak at 171 cm−1 due to the A1 mode of CuInSe2. SEM analysis clearly reveals the influence of solvents on the determination of morphology of the synthesized nanoparticles. EDX and elemental mapping analysis shows presence of nearly stoichiometric composition which was dependent on the nature of solvents used.

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Acknowledgments

The authors sincerely thank DST-SERI (DST/TMC/SERI/FR/90) Govt of India for funding the research. J. Ramkumar and S. Ananthakumar sincerely thank Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Govt. of India for providing fellowships under National Renewable Energy Fellowship (NREF) scheme for the doctoral studies.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Crystal Growth Centre, Anna University, Chennai, 600025, India

    J. Ram Kumar, S. Ananthakumar & S. Moorthy Babu

  2. Centre of Excellence for Energy Research, Sathyabama University, Chennai, 600119, India

    J. Ram Kumar

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Correspondence to S. Moorthy Babu.

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Ram Kumar, J., Ananthakumar, S. & Babu, S.M. Role of phosphine free solvents in structural and morphological properties of CuInSe2 nanoparticles. J Mater Sci: Mater Electron 27, 12418–12426 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-016-5915-1

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