Surface thermal stability of iron pyrite nanocrystals: Role of capping ligands

Baodong Mao; Qingfeng Dong; Christopher L. Exstrom; Jinsong Huang

doi:10.1016/j.tsf.2014.04.033

Surface thermal stability of iron pyrite nanocrystals: Role of capping ligands

Baodong Mao, Qingfeng Dong, Christopher L. Exstrom, Jinsong Huang

Chemistry

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

13 Scopus citations

Abstract

Iron pyrite (FeS₂) is a promising photovoltaic absorber material with a high natural abundance and low cost, but surface defects and low photoresponse inhibit sunlight energy conversion. The surface stability of pyrite FeS₂ nanocrystals synthesized in oleylamine (OLA) with trioctylphosphine oxide (TOPO) as an additional capping ligand was investigated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. Tunable laser exposure during Raman spectroscopy measurement was developed for convenient and systematic evaluation of the stability of FeS ₂ nanocrystals. The surface stability of 100-200 nm diameter cubic nanocrystals with long-chain (OLA, TOPO) or small-molecule (pyridine) capping ligands was evaluated after high-intensity laser exposure as well as after thermal annealing in air and N₂. While increasing surface coverage with OLA and TOPO capping ligands provided additional protection against oxidation, FeS₂ nanocrystals capped with pyridine showed good stability at temperatures up to 200 °C in air and 400 °C in N ₂. These results provide greater understanding of the processing of nanocrystal-based iron pyrite thin films for photovoltaic applications.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	361-366
Number of pages	6
Journal	Thin Solid Films
Volume	562
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tsf.2014.04.033
State	Published - Jul 1 2014

Keywords

Iron pyrite
Ligand exchange
Photovoltaic
Surface stability
Thin films

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
Surfaces and Interfaces
Surfaces, Coatings and Films
Metals and Alloys
Materials Chemistry

Access to Document

10.1016/j.tsf.2014.04.033

Cite this

@article{c77e907ba2e3401d829bc220d4a9b3cf,

title = "Surface thermal stability of iron pyrite nanocrystals: Role of capping ligands",

abstract = "Iron pyrite (FeS2) is a promising photovoltaic absorber material with a high natural abundance and low cost, but surface defects and low photoresponse inhibit sunlight energy conversion. The surface stability of pyrite FeS2 nanocrystals synthesized in oleylamine (OLA) with trioctylphosphine oxide (TOPO) as an additional capping ligand was investigated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. Tunable laser exposure during Raman spectroscopy measurement was developed for convenient and systematic evaluation of the stability of FeS 2 nanocrystals. The surface stability of 100-200 nm diameter cubic nanocrystals with long-chain (OLA, TOPO) or small-molecule (pyridine) capping ligands was evaluated after high-intensity laser exposure as well as after thermal annealing in air and N2. While increasing surface coverage with OLA and TOPO capping ligands provided additional protection against oxidation, FeS2 nanocrystals capped with pyridine showed good stability at temperatures up to 200 °C in air and 400 °C in N 2. These results provide greater understanding of the processing of nanocrystal-based iron pyrite thin films for photovoltaic applications.",

keywords = "Iron pyrite, Ligand exchange, Photovoltaic, Surface stability, Thin films",

author = "Baodong Mao and Qingfeng Dong and Exstrom, {Christopher L.} and Jinsong Huang",

note = "Funding Information: J.H. acknowledges the financial support from the Nebraska Public Power District through the Nebraska Center for Energy Sciences Research and Nebraska Research Initiative . The authors would like to thank Prof. Yongfeng Lu for Raman spectra measurement.",

year = "2014",

month = jul,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1016/j.tsf.2014.04.033",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "562",

pages = "361--366",

journal = "Thin Solid Films",

issn = "0040-6090",

publisher = "Elsevier",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Surface thermal stability of iron pyrite nanocrystals

T2 - Role of capping ligands

AU - Mao, Baodong

AU - Dong, Qingfeng

AU - Exstrom, Christopher L.

AU - Huang, Jinsong

N1 - Funding Information: J.H. acknowledges the financial support from the Nebraska Public Power District through the Nebraska Center for Energy Sciences Research and Nebraska Research Initiative . The authors would like to thank Prof. Yongfeng Lu for Raman spectra measurement.

PY - 2014/7/1

Y1 - 2014/7/1

N2 - Iron pyrite (FeS2) is a promising photovoltaic absorber material with a high natural abundance and low cost, but surface defects and low photoresponse inhibit sunlight energy conversion. The surface stability of pyrite FeS2 nanocrystals synthesized in oleylamine (OLA) with trioctylphosphine oxide (TOPO) as an additional capping ligand was investigated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. Tunable laser exposure during Raman spectroscopy measurement was developed for convenient and systematic evaluation of the stability of FeS 2 nanocrystals. The surface stability of 100-200 nm diameter cubic nanocrystals with long-chain (OLA, TOPO) or small-molecule (pyridine) capping ligands was evaluated after high-intensity laser exposure as well as after thermal annealing in air and N2. While increasing surface coverage with OLA and TOPO capping ligands provided additional protection against oxidation, FeS2 nanocrystals capped with pyridine showed good stability at temperatures up to 200 °C in air and 400 °C in N 2. These results provide greater understanding of the processing of nanocrystal-based iron pyrite thin films for photovoltaic applications.

AB - Iron pyrite (FeS2) is a promising photovoltaic absorber material with a high natural abundance and low cost, but surface defects and low photoresponse inhibit sunlight energy conversion. The surface stability of pyrite FeS2 nanocrystals synthesized in oleylamine (OLA) with trioctylphosphine oxide (TOPO) as an additional capping ligand was investigated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. Tunable laser exposure during Raman spectroscopy measurement was developed for convenient and systematic evaluation of the stability of FeS 2 nanocrystals. The surface stability of 100-200 nm diameter cubic nanocrystals with long-chain (OLA, TOPO) or small-molecule (pyridine) capping ligands was evaluated after high-intensity laser exposure as well as after thermal annealing in air and N2. While increasing surface coverage with OLA and TOPO capping ligands provided additional protection against oxidation, FeS2 nanocrystals capped with pyridine showed good stability at temperatures up to 200 °C in air and 400 °C in N 2. These results provide greater understanding of the processing of nanocrystal-based iron pyrite thin films for photovoltaic applications.

KW - Iron pyrite

KW - Ligand exchange

KW - Photovoltaic

KW - Surface stability

KW - Thin films

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84901793005&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84901793005&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.tsf.2014.04.033

DO - 10.1016/j.tsf.2014.04.033

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:84901793005

SN - 0040-6090

VL - 562

SP - 361

EP - 366

JO - Thin Solid Films

JF - Thin Solid Films

ER -

Surface thermal stability of iron pyrite nanocrystals: Role of capping ligands

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this