Keywords
chalcogen, nanoparticles, quantum dot, dissolution, amine thiol
Presentation Type
Event
Research Abstract
Lead chalcogenide quantum dots have been shown to be ideal materials for solar cells due to their tunable band gap. Developing a dissolution procedure for chalcogens will help lower the production cost of the solar cells produced by the associated nanoparticles. Dissolution was performed in both aqueous and nonaqueous solutions. Precursors for sulfur and selnium were dissolved in both the aqueous solution of ammonium thioglycolate and ammonium hydroxide and in combinations of amines and thiols. Precursors for tellurium were dissolved in ethylenediamine and different thiols. Lead telluride forms larger microparticles that can be suitable for thermoelectric devices. The optimum solutions and solvent ratios were determined by analyzing XRD, SEM, and TEM of the nanoparticles. The results from these characterizations also helped identify which nanoparticles were the right sizes for quantum dot solar cells and for thermoelectric devices. The lead sulfide nanoparticles that were synthesized were around 5-10 nanometers in size. This dissolution process will help to further advance the knowledge on low energy payback times for nanoparticle synthesis processes.
Session Track
Energy
Recommended Citation
Gaurav A. Mittal, Caleb K. Miskin, and Rakesh Agrawal,
"Dissolution of Chalcogens in Amine Thiol Solvents for Use in Nanoparticles"
(August 6, 2015).
The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium.
Paper 150.
https://docs.lib.purdue.edu/surf/2015/presentations/150
Dissolution of Chalcogens in Amine Thiol Solvents for Use in Nanoparticles
Lead chalcogenide quantum dots have been shown to be ideal materials for solar cells due to their tunable band gap. Developing a dissolution procedure for chalcogens will help lower the production cost of the solar cells produced by the associated nanoparticles. Dissolution was performed in both aqueous and nonaqueous solutions. Precursors for sulfur and selnium were dissolved in both the aqueous solution of ammonium thioglycolate and ammonium hydroxide and in combinations of amines and thiols. Precursors for tellurium were dissolved in ethylenediamine and different thiols. Lead telluride forms larger microparticles that can be suitable for thermoelectric devices. The optimum solutions and solvent ratios were determined by analyzing XRD, SEM, and TEM of the nanoparticles. The results from these characterizations also helped identify which nanoparticles were the right sizes for quantum dot solar cells and for thermoelectric devices. The lead sulfide nanoparticles that were synthesized were around 5-10 nanometers in size. This dissolution process will help to further advance the knowledge on low energy payback times for nanoparticle synthesis processes.
