Preparation and characterization of ternary sulfide semiconductor thin films of antimony and tin, TAS (T = tin, antimony and A = S = sulfur), for use in photovoltaic cells

• Grant number: 16/12681-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: March 01, 2017
• End date: July 31, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Physical-Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Lucia Helena Mascaro Sales
• Grantee: Moisés Albuquerque de Araújo
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Exatas e de Tecnologia (CCET). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 13/07296-2 - CDMF - Center for the Development of Functional Materials, AP.CEPID

Abstract

The growing availability of energy sources from fossil material and the numerous environmental problems resulting from excessive use of these fuels has motivated the search for alternative ways of getting energy. The sun shows itself as the main source of natural energy to be explored due to be a clean source of energy, renewable and inexhaustible. Therefore, this energy can be captured by photovoltaic devices that convert into electricity. The technologies used for the preparation of semiconductor materials for this application requires excessive quantity of processing power and uses low abundance or toxic materials. As a result, research has developed alternative methods for the processing of semiconductor materials. Among all different approaches being studied electroplating is known for being a simple technical, economic, practical, easy to implement on a large scale and able to produce semiconductor films of good quality. In this context, it is necessary to understand the process of electrodeposition of semiconductor films in order to obtain nanostructures that improve or add up new optoelectronic properties to the films. Considering aspects raised, this study aims achieving thin films of antimony sulfide and tin, TAS, by electrodeposition on different substrates. The films are made by codeposition well as electrodeposition of multilayer elements. Given the number of variables involved in the electrodeposition process, it will be used to factorial planning to determine the optimum conditions of synthesis of TAS films. The films will be characterized by physical techniques such as X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, dispersive X-ray analysis, atomic force microscopy, photoelectron spectroscopy excited by X-ray and Raman spectroscopy. The optoelectronic properties will be investigated by absorption spectroscopy in UV-vis the region, photoelectrochemical and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. In the final phase of the project will be selected a few films to mount a photovoltaic device and assess the energy conversion efficiency. This stage of the work will be developed in a doctoral internship sandwich one year in the United States.

Scientific publications

(8)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

DE ARAUJO, MOISES A.; GROMBONI, MURILO F.; MARKEN, FRANK; PARKER, STEPHEN C.; PETER, LAURENCE M.; TURNER, JOSH; ASPINALL, HELEN C.; BLACK, KATE; MASCARO, LUCIA H.. Contrasting transient photocurrent characteristics for thin films of vacuum-doped ``grey{''} TiO2 and ``grey{''} Nb2O5. APPLIED CATALYSIS B-ENVIRONMENTAL, v. 237, p. 339-352, DEC 5 2018. (14/50249-8, 16/12681-0, 13/07296-2)

DE ARAUJO, MOISES A.; COELHO, DYOVANI; MASCARO, LUCIA H.; PEREIRA, ERNESTO C.. The iron oxyhydroxide role in the mediation of charge transfer for water splitting using bismuth vanadate photoanodes. Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry, v. 22, n. 5, SI, p. 1539-1548, MAY 2018. (16/12681-0, 13/07296-2)

DE ARAUJO, MOISES A.; LUCAS, FRANCISCO W. S.; MASCARO, LUCIA H.. Effect of the electrodeposition potential on the photoelectroactivity of the SnS/Sb2S3 thin films. Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry, v. 24, n. 2, SI, JAN 2020. (16/12681-0, 18/03156-5, 13/07296-2, 18/16401-8)

COSTA, MAGNO B.; DE ARAUJO, MOISES A.; TINOCO, MARCOS V. DE LIMA; DE BRITO, JULIANA F.; MASCARO, LUCIA H.. Current trending and beyond for solar-driven water splitting reaction on WO3 photoanodes. JOURNAL OF ENERGY CHEMISTRY, v. 73, p. 26-pg., 2022-07-05. (14/50249-8, 17/11986-5, 18/16401-8, 17/21365-8, 16/12681-0, 13/07296-2, 18/02950-0, 19/22131-6)

DE ARAUJO, MOISES A.; GROMBONI, MURILO F.; MARKEN, FRANK; PARKER, STEPHEN C.; PETER, LAURENCE M.; TURNER, JOSH; ASPINALL, HELEN C.; BLACK, KATE; MASCARO, LUCIA H.. Contrasting transient photocurrent characteristics for thin films of vacuum-doped "grey" TiO2 and "grey" Nb2O5. APPLIED CATALYSIS B-ENVIRONMENTAL, v. 237, p. 14-pg., 2018-12-05. (16/12681-0, 14/50249-8, 13/07296-2)

DE ARAUJO, MOISES A.; COSTA, MAGNO B.; MASCARO, LUCIA H.. Improved Photoelectrochemical Hydrogen Gas Generation on Sb2S3 Films Modified with an Earth-Abundant MoSx Co-Catalyst. ACS APPLIED ENERGY MATERIALS, v. 5, n. 1, p. 13-pg., 2022-01-13. (17/21365-8, 17/11986-5, 13/07296-2, 16/12681-0)

DE ARAUJO, MOISES A.; COELHO, DYOVANI; MASCARO, LUCIA H.; PEREIRA, ERNESTO C.. The iron oxyhydroxide role in the mediation of charge transfer for water splitting using bismuth vanadate photoanodes. Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry, v. 22, n. 5, p. 10-pg., 2018-05-01. (16/12681-0, 13/07296-2)

DE ARAUJO, MOISES A.; LUCAS, FRANCISCO W. S.; MASCARO, LUCIA H.. Effect of the electrodeposition potential on the photoelectroactivity of the SnS/Sb2S3 thin films. Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry, v. 24, n. 2, p. 11-pg., 2020-01-30. (16/12681-0, 13/07296-2, 18/16401-8, 18/03156-5)