The extensive research devoted to the development of synthesis methods for semiconductor nanocrystals contrasts with the level of understanding of the underlying reaction mechanisms. The direct investigation of the factors governing nucleation and growth are hampered by the fast reaction kinetics and high temperatures generally required for nanocrystal synthesis. In recent years we focused our efforts in this context on the study of binary, ternary and quaternary metal sulphide nanoparticles (SnS, CuInS2, CZTS), which can serve as absorber materials in solar cells. By combining complementary techniques for the in situ and ex situ structural characterization, we identified the reaction intermediates, which govern the subsequent evolution of size and shape of the nanoparticles. The integration of the obtained nanocrystals into quantum dot sensitised solar cells (QDSSCs) will also be discussed.


Seminar, October 19, 2016, 16:00. ICFO's Seminar Room

Hosted by Prof. Gerasimos Konstantatos